49th Place – West Virginia

In the wild and wonderful state of West Virginia, it’s not just the students who find themselves in a pickle, but the educators too. As reported by WBOY News, the trifecta of job pressures, meager salaries, and limited opportunities for advancement has created a revolving door, with teachers exiting as quickly as they entered. This teacher exodus is a conundrum that needs a solution, and fast!

Back in 2012, a mere one-fifth of eighth graders were math whizzes. The board of education, however, urged calm. They told reporters, “Remember, these are just quick glimpses. We’re sweating bullets to turn things around in West Virginia.” Now, let’s uncover another state that’s not just wrestling with educational hiccups.