West Coast states rank among the worst school systems in the US — where California stacks up nationally

Wet Coast public schools have been sent toward the back of the class in a sweeping new ranking of education systems across the country. The Golden State placed 31st among all 50 states plus Washington, DC, in WalletHub’s 2026 ranking of the nation’s best and worst school systems — trailing Pacific Northwest neighbor Washington, but finishing well ahead of dismal Oregon. California earned an overall score of 50.27 out of 100 after WalletHub compared school systems across 32 measures of quality and safety. California’s public schools have been sent toward the back of the class in a sweeping new ranking of education systems across the country. Getty Images The state ranked 29th for educational quality and a less-impressive 36th for safety. California’s schools notched several standout marks,