The states where K-12 students care most and least about doing well in school, ranked

0 7 minutes read

The states where K-12 students care most and least about doing well in school, ranked

As the back-to-school season approaches — or, in some states, has already begun — students, teachers, and parents are preparing for another year of hard work and focus on school.

But the extent to which children care about learning varies across US states, according to a 2023-2024 study by the National Survey of Children’s Health, a data collection program funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

The analysis included responses from 70,282 children across the US between the ages of 6 and 17 and asked parents and guardians two questions: how often does this child care about doing well in school, and how often does this child do all the required homework?

The answers were then reflected into three categories: “always,” “usually,” and “sometimes or never” engaged in school. Those categorized in “always” put that answer for both questions. Those in “usually” responded to both questions as “usually” or to one as “usually” and the other as “always.” All remaining children were classified as “sometimes or never.”

Those in the Northeast, including New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania, had the largest shares of children reported as always engaged in school. Children in New Hampshire and Vermont, however, were among the least engaged; Alaska ranked last.

Still, the findings offer a snapshot of how consistently caregivers say children are motivated and completing their schoolwork — not a direct measure of academic performance or school quality.

Engagement can be shaped by many overlapping factors, like family routines, disability or mental health needs, school workload, chronic absenteeism, and access to tutoring or after-school care. The interpretation of “always” and “usually” may also vary by respondent.

Here’s how children ages 6 to 17 in every state and Washington, DC, fared.

51. Alaska

Fairbanks, Alaska.

Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 34.5% of children

Usually engaged in school: 45.2% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 20.3% of children

50. Idaho

Downtown Boise skyline at dusk with light trails leading toward the Idaho State Capitol. — Boise City, Idaho.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 34.5% of children

Usually engaged in school: 45.2% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 20.3% of children

49. New Hampshire

Greenville, NH from the air — Greenville, New Hampshire.

BackyardProduction/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 34.9% of children

Usually engaged in school: 45.7% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 19.4% of children

48. Utah

Beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah, USA at sunset time. Downtown and green outskirts of the city with rocks at backdrop. Aerial view. — Salt Lake City, Utah.

Vadym Terelyuk/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 34.9% of children

Usually engaged in school: 41.3% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 23.8% of children

47. Montana

Aerial View of Downtown Bozeman, Montana in Summer — Bozeman, Montana

Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 35.4% of children

Usually engaged in school: 40.5% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 24.1% of children

46. Vermont

Panoramic aerial view of the town of Stowe in Vermont in the fall — Stowe, Vermont

BackyardProduction/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 36.5% of children

Usually engaged in school: 40.3% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 23.1% of children

45. Oregon

Portland, Oregon.

espiegle/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 36.9% of children

Usually engaged in school: 39.7% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 23.4% of children

44. Wyoming

A drone shot of Laramie, Wyoming neighborhood's cityscape with greenery, sunlight and cloudy sky — Laramie, Wyoming.

Wirestock/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 37.6% of children

Usually engaged in school: 41.6% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 20.8% of children

43. West Virginia

Clarksburg, West Virginia.

ChrisBoswell/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 37.8% of children

Usually engaged in school: 41.1% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 21.1% of children

42. Colorado

Aerial View of Aurora, Colorado in Autumn — Aurora, Colorado.

Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 38.7% of children

Usually engaged in school: 42.1% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 19.2% of children

41. Indiana

Indianapolis. — Indianapolis, Indiana.

: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 38.7% of children

Usually engaged in school: 40.4% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 20.8% of children

40. Washington

Seattle, Washington, USA - September 19, 2013: Aerial panoramic view of Seattle University of Washington District Neighborhood, Mt Rainer, and Lake Washington — Seattle, Washington

SEASTOCK/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 39.1% of children

Usually engaged in school: 38.8% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 22.1% of children

39. Nevada

Reno, Nevada.

miroslav_1/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 39.3% of children

Usually engaged in school: 37.7% of childrents

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 22.9% of children

38. Oklahoma

Downtown Oklahoma City skyline at sunset with high-rise towers, urban buildings, trees, and light trails in the foreground. — Oklahoma City.

RudyBalasko/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 39.4% of children

Usually engaged in school: 40.5% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 20.2% of children

37. Missouri

St. Louis, Missouri.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 39.5% of children

Usually engaged in school: 39.1% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 21.4% of children

36. New Mexico

Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 39.8% of children

Usually engaged in school: 39.3% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 20.9% of children

35. Minnesota

Aerial cityscape image of downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, USA with reflection of the skyline in Mississippi River at stormy summer sunset. — St. Paul, Minnesota.

RudyBalasko/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 40.0% of children

Usually engaged in school: 38.8% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 21.2% of children

34. Wisconsin

Madison skyline and Wisconsin State Capitol. The Wisconsin State Capitol, houses both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature, Supreme Court and the Office of the Governor. — Madison, Wisconsin

Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 40.7% of children

Usually engaged in school: 39.2% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 20.1% of children

33. Iowa

Iowa State Capitol with gold dome overlooks a broad avenue and downtown Des Moines under bright sun. — Des Moines, Iowa.

Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 41.1% of children

Usually engaged in school: 39.2% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 19.7% of children

32. Maine

Portland, Maine, USA downtown city skyline at dusk. — Portland, Maine

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 41.1% of children

Usually engaged in school: 37.9% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 21.0% of children

31. South Dakota

Urban river flows beneath a bridge between downtown buildings at dusk under a clear blue sky. — Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 41.5% of children

Usually engaged in school: 38.9% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 19.6% of children

30. Virginia

Charlottesville, Virginia, wide aerial drone view looking over the expansive University of Virginia campus and medical center complex, stretching toward rolling green hills under a bright sky with scattered clouds. — Charlottesville, Virginia.

Eli Wilson/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 41.5% of children

Usually engaged in school: 38.0% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 20.5% of children

29. North Carolina

Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Kruck20/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 42.4% of children

Usually engaged in school: 38.6% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 19.0% of children

28. North Dakota

Aerial view of the North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck, North Dakota, on a dramatic overcast sunset with a red-tinted sky in the fall. — Bismarck, North Dakota.

halbergman/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 42.7% of children

Usually engaged in school: 39.4% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 17.9% of children

27. Hawaii

Aerial View of Honolulu Neighborhoods and Mountains. Wide aerial view of residential neighborhoods in Honolulu, Hawaii, with lush green mountains and scattered clouds in the background — Honolulu, Hawaii.

Iryna Olkhova/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 43.0% of children

Usually engaged in school: 42.0% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 15.0% of children

26. Kansas

Aerial View of Lawrence, Kansas and its State University stock photo — Lawrence, Kansas.

Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 43.0% of children

Usually engaged in school: 39.2% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 17.8% of children

25. Nebraska

Aerial View of the Omaha, Nebraska Skyline at Dusk — Omaha, Nebraska.

Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 43.0% of children

Usually engaged in school: 40.2% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 16.8% of children

24. Maryland

Picturesque mountain town of Cumberland Maryland on a beautiful autumn day with vibrant fall colors and puffy clouds — Cumberland, Maryland.

PBallay/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 43.1% of children

Usually engaged in school: 36.1% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 20.8% of children

23. Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 43.8% of children

Usually engaged in school: 37.2% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 19.1% of children

22. South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 43.9% of children

Usually engaged in school: 34.3% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 21.8% of children

21. Georgia

Atlanta, GA. — Atlanta, Georgia.

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 44.4% of children

Usually engaged in school: 38.4% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 17.2% of children

20. Illinois

Chicago, Illinois.

Iryna Olkhova/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 44.4% of children

Usually engaged in school: 39.5% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 16.1% of children

19. Ohio

Downtown Cleveland skyline rises beside the Cuyahoga River with Terminal Tower and waterfront parks in warm light. — Cleveland, Ohio.

Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 44.7% of children

Usually engaged in school: 37.0% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 18.3% of children

18. Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 45.1% of children

Usually engaged in school: 34.7% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 20.3% of children

17. Arkansas

Downtown Little Rock skyline and a white arch bridge span the Arkansas River under a blue sky. — Little Rock, Arkansas.

Rdlamkin/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 45.6% of children

Usually engaged in school: 33.1% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 21.3% of children

16. Kentucky

Louisville, Kentucky.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 45.6% of children

Usually engaged in school: 36.1% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 18.2% of children

15. New York

Buffalo, New York, USA downtown city skyline at golden hour. — Buffalo, New York.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 45.6% of children

Usually engaged in school: 35.0% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 19.4% of children

14. Arizona

Tucson, Arizona, USA downtown skyline with Sentinel Peak at dusk. (Mountaintop "A" for "Arizona") — Tucson, Arizona.

Sean Pavone/iStock

Always engaged in school: 45.8% of children

Usually engaged in school: 34.7% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 19.4% of children

13. District of Columbia

Always engaged in school: 45.8% of children

Usually engaged in school: 35.2% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 19.0% of children

12. Mississippi

Jackson, Mississippi.

Dennis MacDonald/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 46.3% of children

Usually engaged in school: 35.5% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 18.2% of children

11. California

View of San Luis Obispo, CA — San Luis Obispo, California.

russokm1105/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 46.4% of children

Usually engaged in school: 36.3% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 17.2% of children

10. Alabama

Mobile, Alabama.

SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 46.5% of children

Usually engaged in school: 36.3% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 17.2% of children

9. Florida

Tampa, Florida.

SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 46.6% of children

Usually engaged in school: 36.0% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 17.4% of children

8. Rhode Island

Providence, Rhode Island.

Wirestock/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 46.8% of children

Usually engaged in school: 35.9% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 17.3% of children

7. Connecticut

New Haven, Connecticut.

Ashley RK Smith/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 47.0% of children

Usually engaged in school: 34.6% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 18.4% of children

6. Texas

Austin, Texas skyline with modern skyscrapers and unique architectural designs against a blue sky. The foreground features a calm body of water reflecting the buildings and surrounding green trees. The scene captures a mix of urban architecture and natural beauty, showcasing Austin's vibrant cityscape and lush environment. — Austin, Texas.

RudyBalasko/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 47.0% of children

Usually engaged in school: 34.7% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 18.3% of children

5. Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee, USA downtown skyline on the Cumberland River. — Nashville, Tennessee.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 47.3% of children

Usually engaged in school: 35.7% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 17.0% of children

4. Delaware

Wilmington, Delaware.

Chris Boswell/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged in school: 47.8% of children

Usually engaged in school: 33.4% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 18.8% of children

3. Pennsylvania

Aerial View of the Gettysburg College Campus With Fall Colors in Gettysburg Pennsylvania — Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Kyle Little/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 48.7% of children

Usually engaged in school: 34.4% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 16.9% of children

2. Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts.

Thomas Roell/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 48.8% of children

Usually engaged in school: 34.6% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 16.5% of children

1. New Jersey

Illuminated downtown skyline reflects across a calm river at dusk under a cloud-filled sky. — Newark, New Jersey.

DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Always engaged in school: 54.1% of children

Usually engaged in school: 31.4% of children

Sometimes or never engaged in school: 14.5% of children

Sarah Walker 1 week ago

0 7 minutes read

51. Alaska

50. Idaho

49. New Hampshire

48. Utah

47. Montana

46. Vermont

45. Oregon

44. Wyoming

43. West Virginia

42. Colorado

41. Indiana

40. Washington

39. Nevada

38. Oklahoma

37. Missouri

36. New Mexico

35. Minnesota

34. Wisconsin

33. Iowa

32. Maine

31. South Dakota

30. Virginia

29. North Carolina

28. North Dakota

27. Hawaii

26. Kansas

25. Nebraska

24. Maryland

23. Michigan

22. South Carolina

21. Georgia

20. Illinois

19. Ohio

18. Louisiana

17. Arkansas

16. Kentucky

15. New York

14. Arizona

13. District of Columbia

12. Mississippi

11. California

10. Alabama

9. Florida

8. Rhode Island

7. Connecticut

6. Texas

5. Tennessee

4. Delaware

3. Pennsylvania

2. Massachusetts

1. New Jersey

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