The Worst School District in Each State

The Humboldt Unified School District 258 in eastern Kansas ranks as the worst district in the state. Per pupil spending in the distinct totals just $9,187 a year, well below the $11,926 average spending statewide. While higher investment in education is no guarantee of improved outcomes, it can translate to certain advantages, such as small class sizes. In the Humboldt district, there are 22 students per teacher, well above the student-teacher ratio of 14:1 across the state.

According to neighborhood and school district review site Niche, Humboldt compares poorly to other districts in the state in college prep, academics, clubs and activities, and resources and facilities.

Children growing up in financially insecure households face greater hurdles to academic achievement than those in more financially secure environments. In Kentucky’s McCreary County School District, the district with the worst conditions in the state, 38.7% of children live below the poverty line, nearly double the 19.2% state child poverty rate.

Additionally, children who are raised by college-educated parents or guardians are more likely to succeed in school than those who are not. In the McCreary County district, only 7.2% of adults have a bachelor’s degree, less than a third of the statewide share of 23.6%.

The Madison Parish School District is located in northeastern Louisiana. Ranking as the worst district in the state, Madison has larger than average class sizes and performs poorly in a range of important measures related to academics, college prep, and clubs and activities, according to school district and neighborhood review site, Niche.

Economic conditions in the district are perhaps the largest hindrance to academic success, however. Poverty is a predictor of poor academic performance, and over half of all children in the area live below the poverty line.

Maine School Administrative District 68 is a small district of about 1,000 students in central Maine. Per pupil spending in the distinct totals just $4,451 a year, about a third of the $14,614 average per pupil spending statewide. While higher investment in education is no guarantee of improved outcomes, it can translate to certain advantages, such as small class sizes. In Maine’s District 68, there are 20 students per teacher, well above the student-teacher ratio of 12:1 across the state.

Baltimore City Public Schools, a massive district with nearly 80,000 students, ranks as the worst school district in Maryland. Children growing up in financially insecure households face greater challenges to academic success than those in more stable households, and across the Baltimore City district, 30.7% of children live in poverty, nearly triple the 11.9% statewide child poverty rate.

According to neighborhood and school district review site Niche, Baltimore city schools district also compares poorly for college prep, academics, and resources and facilities.