As the most populous state in the nation and the fourth largest economy in the world, California is a global leader in many ways. But where do the state’s public schools rank? A 2026 survey by World Population Review ranks the Golden State 8th in the nation for its public schools.
The ranking factored in metrics such as graduation rates, test scores, and teacher salaries, while another national report found that California ranks high for public school teacher salaries and in the top 20 for student spending.
Rankings matter because school performance can influence where families locate, property values, and taxes.
Where does California rank in the 2026 public school rankings?
California comes in 8th in the public-school rankings compiled by World Population Review. The ranking is based on metrics across four categories: K-12 performance, school funding, quality of higher education, and school safety.
Why California schools rank in the Top 10 in the nation
The Golden State’s placement in the nation’s top tier of public schools is based on metrics such as graduation rates, test scores, student expenditures, teacher qualifications, and college graduation rates, according to World Population Review.
The quality of the state’s higher education is a major driver in its overall rankings, which was ranked #2 in the nation.
How California compares to other top-ranked states for their public schools
California is the only state west of the Mississippi to have a public school system in the top 10 nationwide. New York is the top-ranked state for public schools in the nation and also has the highest per-student spending.
Teacher pay in CA is the highest in the nation
An April 2026 report by the National Education Association shows public school teachers in California earn an average salary of $103,552, higher than the national average of $74,495. California salaries increased 2.4% between 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, lower than the national average of 3.5%.
Teacher pay varies widely by state, according to NEA data, with Northeast states generally paying the most (outside of California). Florida teachers earn the least, with an average salary of $56,663.
California per‑student spending ranks in the top 20
California’s average per-student expenditure in the 2024/2025 school year, based on fall enrollment, was $20,898, an increase of 6.67% over the prior year. This ranked California #16 across all 50 states. The national average was $17,840 per student. New York had the highest per-student expenditure at $32,370 that year.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California’s public schools rank 8th nationally in new survey
Reporting by Roseann Cattani, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
