Earlier this week, the magazine Consumer Affairs published a study that ranked public education systems in each state, and Arizona came in dead last.
From AZFamily, written by staff and Sarah Robinson, dated 9/16 -
Report ranks Arizona worst in nation for public education
A new analysis claims that Arizona ranks the worst in the nation for public education, citing examples like average ACT scores, graduation rates, overall funding and higher education quality.
ConsumerAffairs, a consumer research firm and customer review platform, analyzed data from all 50 states and found that the Grand Canyon State falls short of delivering quality education.
Tom Horne, Arizona's Superintendent of Public Instruction, pooh-poohed the results.
From the same story -
“We are last in the country, I think, in our funding per pupil,” Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said.
[snip]
Arizona also has the fifth-lowest high school graduation rate.
Horne questioned the use of graduation rates as a key metric.
“You can increase your graduation rate just by lowering your standards. And you would be graduating kids who can’t read,” he said.
[snip]
“I don’t think this is an accurate study. I think some of the aspects are,” he said
From the study-
Of course, the low ranking for public ed didn't stop Horne from running ads that shamelessly tout school vouchers to take funding from public schools and give it to private schools.
