States Leading the Way in Educational Innovation

Educational innovation in the United States plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of jobs and communities. Through hybrid or virtual learning over platforms like Zoom, schools are able to hold classes without disruption when people are sick and provide education access to more students. Additionally, recent trends in project-based learning help students across disciplines learn from the real world while still in school, boosting creativity and flexibility.

To highlight the states innovating the most in their education systems and the ones that have more work to do, SmileHub compared each of the 50 states based on 14 key metrics. The data set ranges from test-optional universities per capita to full-time virtual schools per capita to the adoption of K-12 computer science policies.

If you want to support education but don't know where to donate, consider checking out our picks for the Best Charities for Education in 2024.

• Main Findings
• Methodology

Main Findings

States Leading the Way in Educational Innovation

Overall Rank*	State	Total Score	Virtual Learning & Education Accessibility Rank	Progressive Education Methods & Opportunities Rank	Innovative Education Recognition Rank
1	California	77.40	5	1	3
2	New York	71.57	3	3	4
3	Massachusetts	69.24	26	2	1
4	Pennsylvania	68.30	10	7	2
5	Illinois	63.12	29	4	5
6	Ohio	61.07	12	8	6
7	Texas	58.99	6	6	11
8	Florida	57.99	1	10	23
9	Virginia	54.02	11	11	12
10	Indiana	52.12	19	14	9
11	Wisconsin	51.37	4	13	16
12	North Carolina	51.30	20	16	7
13	Michigan	51.00	2	25	19
14	Maryland	50.96	17	12	10
15	Georgia	46.95	27	9	18
16	Washington	44.46	7	5	40
17	New Jersey	44.19	34	18	14
18	Colorado	43.81	28	15	20
19	Minnesota	43.49	8	22	32
20	Arizona	43.42	9	38	13
21	Alabama	41.11	33	27	15
22	Maine	40.90	18	39	8
23	Louisiana	39.89	16	28	24
24	Tennessee	39.41	41	17	21
25	New Hampshire	38.79	24	19	30
26	South Carolina	38.51	32	24	22
27	Connecticut	37.10	37	20	25
28	Iowa	33.88	14	21	46
29	Nebraska	33.31	15	44	29
30	Oregon	31.95	23	43	26
31	Montana	30.67	40	29	33
32	Alaska	28.62	46	46	17
33	Kentucky	28.21	22	33	41
34	Rhode Island	28.06	48	36	27
35	Vermont	27.75	25	30	47
36	Kansas	27.70	13	40	48
37	Arkansas	27.48	35	23	50
38	Missouri	26.32	49	26	36
39	New Mexico	26.07	50	32	31
40	Delaware	25.79	31	50	28
41	Idaho	24.75	38	35	39
42	Utah	24.62	42	31	43
43	Oklahoma	24.24	36	34	44
44	Wyoming	23.31	30	45	42
45	Hawaii	21.71	47	37	37
46	West Virginia	21.07	21	47	49
47	Mississippi	20.87	45	42	38
48	North Dakota	20.62	39	48	35
49	South Dakota	20.23	43	49	34
50	Nevada	19.98	44	41	45

Notes: *1 = Best

With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of each state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that category.

 

Methodology

To determine the states leading the way in educational innovation, SmileHub compared the 50 states across three key dimensions: 1) Virtual Learning & Education Accessibility, 2) Progressive Education Methods & Opportunities and 3) Innovative Education Recognition.

We evaluated those dimensions using 14 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of educational innovation. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), the square root of the population was used to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for population differences across states.

We then determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the states.

Virtual Learning & Education Accessibility - Total Points: 25

• Education Charities per Capita*: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
• Test-Optional Universities per Capita*: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
  Note: Schools with a test-optional policy allow students to decide for themselves to send in test scores as part of their application. Choosing not to send test scores will not be counted against the applicant.
• Full-Time Virtual Schools per Capita*: Double Weight (~8.33 Points)
• Presence of a Digital Learning Plan: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
  Note: This is a binary metric:
  
  • 1 - Yes, this state has guidelines for comprehensive strategies for schools deploying technology, training for teachers and instructional resources for building remote lesson plans.
    
  • 0 - No, this state does not have guidelines in place.
• State Guidance on Accessible Technologies: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
  Note: This is a binary metric
  
  • 1 - This state provides information, examples, or guidelines to support the selection and acquisition of accessible digital instructional materials.
    
  • 0 - This state does not provide information, examples, or guidelines to support the selection and acquisition of accessible digital instructional materials.

Progressive Education Methods & Opportunities - Total Points: 35

• Adoption of K-12 Computer Science Policies: Full Weight (~7.00 Points)
  Note: This metric is based on the 2023 State of Computer Science report from the Code.org Advocacy Coalition, Computer Science Teacher Association and the Expanding Computing Education Pathways Alliance, which includes state-by-state policy adoption of computer science education standards, which include creating a statewide plan for K-12 computer science, allocating funding for computer science teacher professional learning, and requiring computer science as a graduation requirement.
• Montessori Schools per Capita*: Full Weight (~7.00 Points)
  Note: The Montessori method of education is a type of educational method that involves children's natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. A Montessori classroom places an emphasis on hands-on learning and developing real-world skills.
• Creative Workspaces per Capita*: Full Weight (~7.00 Points)
  Note: A creative workspace, or makerspace, is a collaborative workspace inside a school, library, or separate public/private facility for making, learning, exploring and sharing that uses high tech to no tech tools.
• Schools with Study Abroad Programs per Capita*: Full Weight (~7.00 Points)
• Schools that Offer Advanced Placement® Program Courses per Capita*: Full Weight (~7.00 Points)
  Note: The Advanced Placement® Program (AP) enables willing and academically prepared students to pursue college-level studies while still in high school. The AP Program develops college-level courses that high schools can choose to offer and corresponding AP Exams that are administered once a year.

Innovative Education Recognition - Total Points: 40

• Innovative Technology Experience for Students and Teachers Resource Center Active Awards: Double Weight (~16.00 Points)
  Note: This composed metric includes the number of active Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers awards per capita* and the dollar amount awarded per capita.
  Because STEM and ICT careers increasingly rely on technologies and computing, the ITEST program funds projects that engage youth, from pre-kindergarten through high school, and pre-K-12 educators in equitable, innovative technology learning and education experiences within and across STEM disciplines in formal or informal settings. These projects build youths’ interest and knowledge in STEM careers, and they prioritize the full inclusion of all groups to include those that have been underrepresented, underserved, or excluded from STEM educational opportunities.
• Blue Ribbon Schools per Capita*: Full Weight (~8.00 Points)
  Note: The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Every year the U. S. Department of Education seeks out and celebrates great American schools, schools demonstrating that all students can achieve to high levels. More than 8,500 schools across the country have been presented with this coveted award. The National Blue Ribbon School award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content. The National Blue Ribbon School flag gracing an entry or flying overhead is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.
• "League of Innovative Schools" School Districts per Capita*: Full Weight (~8.00 Points)
  Note: Digital Promise works at the intersection of education leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, and developers to improve learning with the power of technology. By collaborating on shared priorities, the League spearheads innovative learning and leadership practices to achieve equitable outcomes for every student.
• Quality of Innovative Schools: Full Weight (~8.00 Points)
  Note: This metric is based on U.S. News and World Report’s “Most Innovative Schools” ranking.

 
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Education, FairTest, National Center for Education Statistics, State Educational Technology Directors Association, Code.org Advocacy Coalition, Computer Science Teacher Association, Expanding Computing Education Pathways Alliance, National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector, Makerspace, Educations.com, College Board, Digital Promise and U.S. News & World Report.