Washington ranks 46th out of 50
in pupil-teacher ratio.
State
VERMONT
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW JERSEY
MISSOURI
WEST VIRGINIA
NORTH DAKOTA
MAINE
WYOMING
VIRGINIA
NEW YORK
NEBRASKA
RHODE ISLAND
CONNECTICUT
MASSACHUSETTS
SOUTH DAKOTA
MONTANA
KANSAS
IOWA
PENNSYLVANIA
MARYLAND
DELAWARE
TENNESSEE
ARKANSAS
TEXAS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH CAROLINA
MISSISSIPPI
SOUTH CAROLINA
MINNESOTA
WISCONSIN
GEORGIA
ALABAMA
LOUISIANA
FLORIDA
HAWAII
COLORADO
ILLINOIS
OKLAHOMA
ALASKA
KENTUCKY
INDIANA
OHIO
MICHIGAN
NEVADA
ARIZONA
Rank
1
2
3
4
4
6
7
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
22
22
25
25
27
27
27
30
30
32
33
33
35
35
35
35
39
40
41
42
43
44
44
WASHINGTON
46
IDAHO
OREGON
CALIFORNIA
UTAH
47
48
49
50
• Washington class sizes are among the largest in the nation.
• Bringing Washington's average class size to the national
average would require hiring 11,812 additional teachers.
• Reducing class sizes in early grades improves learning in all
subject areas, especially for children living in poverty.
• Reducing class sizes can improve classroom behavior and
give students more individualized attention. Needing less
time for discipline, teachers can spend more time on
instruction.
• Studies show that small classes improve teacher-student
interaction and teacher morale, along with enriched learning
experiences.
• Students who are in small classes in the early elementary
grades are significantly more likely to graduate from high
school.
http://www.washingtonea.org
Sources: NEA Rankings and Estimates, May 2016. Original data reported to NEA by state departments of education.
Data excludes District of Columbia.
Finn, J.D., Gerber, S.B. & Boyd-Zaharias, J. (2005). Small classes in the early grades, academic achievement, and
graduating from high school. Journal of Educational Psychology, 97 (2)
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