(Editorial - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

A new school year is just around the corner in West Virginia. As teachers and administrators prepare, it is worth taking a look at how well we’ve been doing for our students. According to WalletHub’s “States with the Best and Worst School Systems (2024),” the answer is not so great.

Overall performance put West Virginia at 46th on the list. For those who were bracing for our usual dead last, that number might be a relief, but the scant improvement is not enough.

Two bright spots in WalletHub’s report are that the Mountain State ranks first for the lowest dropout rate; and we are an impressive 20th for school safety.

Other data is less encouraging. We are 47th for public school quality, 49th for math test scores, 50th for reading test scores, and tied for 49th with Washington, D.C., for median SAT scores.

Given the nasty political and socio-cultural atmosphere of recent years, and adults’ willingness to be their worst selves while harassing others via social media, perhaps our rank of 47th for bullying incidence rates is no surprise. After all, children learn by example.

Authors of the report understood how important the performance of a state’s public school system can be to the overall health of a state.

“Securing a child’s academic success begins with choosing the right schools,” the report said. “It’s important for parents to find a school system that will provide their children with all the resources they need to thrive, both academically and emotionally.”

Year after year, report after report (not just WalletHub’s) give parents little reason to choose West Virginia as the state in which to raise their children.

“Getting enough funding is essential for a productive school system, but simply having more money doesn’t guarantee success,” said WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe. “How funds are applied also plays a big role in how good a school system is, as does the quality of educators, other professionals and the curriculum. In addition, schools need to focus not just on test scores but also on making sure that students feel safe, comfortable and cared for.”

Yes, our lawmakers must prioritize supporting public schools both with funding and by getting out of teachers’ way. But communities must also place a priority on supporting schools and insisting on the best education our children can receive. Families must prioritize education and be in our teachers’ corners.

In short, we must not only demand better, WE must be better in our approach to public education in West Virginia. Our kids deserve it.