PPB April 2020

Top 10 States For Education U.S. News & World Report ranked states on performance in higher education as well as primary and secondary schooling and pre-K education. These 10 states rank among the best in the nation when it comes to educating students. 1 Massachusetts 2 New Jersey 3 Florida 4 Washington 5 New Hampshire 6 Nebraska 7 Virginia 8 Vermont 9 Iowa 10 Utah Source: U.S. News & World Report Resource Officers On The Rise More than half (57 percent) of schools have a security presence, up from 42 percent a decade ago. About 90 percent of law enforcement officers stationed at schools regularly carry firearms. Source: National Center for Education Statistics In Uniform Public K-12 schools across the country are increasingly mandating uniforms. Here’s a breakdown of where uniforms are required: • 22% of elementary schools • 19% of middle schools • 10% of high schools Source: National Center for Education Statistics Diploma Data Five states have the lowest dropout rate meaning students are most likely to graduate—and five have the highest dropout rate meaning students are more likely to leave before earning a diploma. The Cost Of Higher Education Even when accounting for inflation, the cost of tuition, room and board has more than doubled since 1971. Today, the average bachelor’s degree graduate finishes school with a student loan debt of $37,172, which is up from $20,000 just 13 years ago. Here are some key facts to know about student loan debt: • One in four Americans (an estimated 44.7 million people) have student loan debt • The current total U.S. student loan debt stands at an estimated $1.53 trillion • The average student loan repayment is $393 per month • There’s a bright spot—the U.S. government will forgive $207.4 billion in student loan debt for Americans who take out loans over the next decade Sources: Nitro, The Wall Street Journal Lowest Dropout Rates 1 Iowa 2 New Jersey 3 Tennessee 4 Kentucky 5 Texas 44 | APRIL 2020 | GROW Educa t i on