40th Place – Oklahoma

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the state rankings over time, Oklahoma’s position is unlikely to raise your eyebrows. This state has been grappling with some stubborn issues, from less-than-stellar high school graduation rates to a scarcity of residents with bachelor’s degrees. The culprit behind these woes? A pesky shortage of funding. It’s like a never-ending game of whack-a-mole, where the mole is always the lack of resources!

The Economist, in an intriguing article titled “What’s The Matter With Oklahoma?” paints a grim picture of the education crisis in the state. The culprit? Shockingly low teacher salaries and drastic budget slashes that are pushing schools to the edge of collapse. The numbers tell a chilling tale – a staggering 28.2% cut in education funding in 2008 alone. It’s a sobering look at a state’s educational woes.