Virginia has been ranked the best state for teachers in the country, leading in teacher compensation and public school spending per student. However, the state faces a stark contrast in academic performance, ranking last among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., in math scores, according to the data cited in a recent report.
The findings highlight a growing debate over whether higher teacher salaries and increased education spending are translating into better academic outcomes for students.
A WalletHub report released Monday ranked Virginia as the most teacher-friendly state in 2025, followed by Utah, Washington, New York and Illinois. The five lowest-ranked states were South Dakota, New Hampshire, Maine, Montana and Hawaii.
To determine the best and worst states for teachers, WalletHub compared all 50 states and Washington, D.C., using factors such as teacher compensation, employment opportunities, tenure protections, spending per student, student-teacher ratios and school-system quality.
“Despite having one of the most crucial jobs in America – educating the next generation – teachers are often underpaid and underappreciated,” said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst. He added that states offering competitive compensation, strong educational resources and supportive working conditions can make teaching a more rewarding career.
National Test Scores Raise Concerns About Student Performance
The teacher rankings come as national education officials raise concerns about declining student achievement.
The U.S. Department of Education pointed to results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly known as the Nation’s Report Card, which showed significant academic challenges among students nationwide.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the latest results showed that nearly half of the nation’s high school seniors were performing below the basic proficiency benchmark in math and reading.
She also questioned whether billions of dollars spent annually on K-12 education programs were producing sufficient improvements in student achievement.
The department announced plans to invest $500 million in grants for charter schools to support school choice in 2025.
Washington Spends Nearly $19,000 Per Student
Washington state offers another example of the debate over education funding and academic performance.
According to The Center Square, Washington spent an average of $18,944 per public school student, based on school districts receiving $39.37 billion from state, local and federal sources in the 2023–25 operating budget.
Washington ranked third in WalletHub’s teacher-friendly state rankings. However, an analysis by the Annie E. Casey Foundation placed the state 27th nationally in student performance, down from 20th a decade earlier.
The foundation reported that more than two-thirds of Washington’s fourth graders failed to meet reading standards in 2024. Meanwhile, 70% of eighth graders were not proficient in math.
State enrollment figures also illustrate the scale of Washington’s education system. The state’s Office of Financial Management reported that 1,071,082 students were enrolled in public K-12 schools in December 2024. By May 2025, the state had more than 68,000 teachers, equivalent to approximately 15 students per teacher.
Washington uses the Smarter Balanced Assessment system to evaluate English language arts and mathematics. According to the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, 71% of students demonstrated grade-level or higher foundational knowledge in English language arts, while 63% met that benchmark in math.
Despite the substantial investment in public education, some lawmakers argue that the state should be seeing stronger academic results.
State Rep. Michael Keaton, a Republican from Puyallup, told The Center Square that Washington’s student performance should improve given its per-student spending.
He pointed to Idaho, Wyoming and Mississippi, where lower spending levels have coincided with stronger results on some national assessments.
Idaho, Wyoming and Mississippi Show Stronger Results in Some Areas
Results from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that Idaho, Wyoming and Mississippi performed above the national average in fourth-grade math, where the average score was 237 out of 500.
According to the reported results, students in these states also recorded stronger proficiency outcomes than their national peers in certain reading and math assessments.
Their education spending levels varied considerably. Wyoming spent $20,159 per student, while Idaho spent $9,387 and Mississippi spent $12,394.
Wyoming’s results are particularly notable because the state ranked 46th in WalletHub’s teacher-friendly rankings, despite its performance on the cited academic measures.
These comparisons suggest that education funding alone does not explain differences in student achievement. Other factors, including teaching practices, curriculum, student needs, family support and the effective use of school resources, may also influence academic outcomes.
However, differences between state assessment systems and student populations mean that spending figures and rankings should not be treated as proof that lower spending produces better results.
Virginia Leads Teacher Rankings Despite Low Math Performance
Virginia’s position at the top of WalletHub’s teacher-friendly rankings contrasts sharply with its reported academic results.
The state increased public school spending by 53% since 2020, according to the figures cited in the report. Yet Virginia ranked last among the states and Washington, D.C., in math performance and 41st in reading.
U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat from Virginia, called the math results unacceptable while emphasizing the need to recruit and retain qualified educators.
“We need to raise teachers’ salaries, and bring and attract people into the profession and ensure every educator has the respect they deserve for the incredible work they do,” Spanberger said.
The figures raise questions about how states can balance competitive teacher compensation with effective classroom instruction and measurable improvements in student achievement.
Montana Introduces New Teacher Pay Requirements
Montana, which ranked 49th in WalletHub’s teacher-friendly rankings, has also taken steps to address teacher compensation.
The state’s 2025 Legislature passed the Student and Teacher Advancement for Results and Success Act, known as STARS. The legislation aims to improve educational outcomes by providing targeted support for students and teachers.
Under the law, districts must set starting teacher salaries at 62% of the district-wide average salary to qualify for funding.
Erwin Garcia, superintendent of Billings Public Schools, Montana’s largest public school district, said salary increases were necessary to keep pace with inflation.
He explained that a $40,000 salary in 2020 did not have the same purchasing power in 2025, meaning that raises were needed to maintain teachers’ real earnings.
Teacher Pay and Student Achievement Remain Separate Challenges
The differences between teacher rankings, education spending and academic performance across the country underscore the complexity of improving public schools.
WalletHub’s rankings measure how favorable states are for teachers, while NAEP results assess student achievement in specific subjects and grades. These measures evaluate different aspects of education and do not necessarily move together.
The 2024 ACT scores cited in the report also varied among states. New Hampshire recorded an average score of 25.9, followed by New York at 25.4, Virginia at 24.8, Washington and Illinois at 24.5, Utah at 20, Montana at 19.5 and Hawaii at 17.7. The maximum ACT composite score is 36.
Per-student spending also differed significantly. New York spent $33,437 per student, compared with $21,829 in Illinois, $16,445 in Virginia and $9,977 in Utah.
Among the five lowest-ranked states for teachers, reported annual spending per student ranged from $13,636 in South Dakota to $21,898 in New Hampshire.
Taken together, the findings show that states face two related but distinct challenges: making teaching an attractive profession and ensuring students receive an education that prepares them for college, careers and adult life.
Higher salaries and greater school funding can support educators and provide resources for students, but policymakers must also examine how those investments are used and whether they lead to measurable improvements in learning.
