Student-Teacher Ratio by State: Complete 2026 Rankings

The average student-teacher ratio in U.S. public schools is 14.8:1. But that national number hides enormous variation. In Vermont, the average school has about 10.6 students per teacher. In Nevada, it’s 22.8.

That gap matters. Research consistently shows that smaller class sizes improve outcomes, especially in elementary grades and for students from lower-income families. The landmark Tennessee STAR study found that students in smaller classes (13-17 students) outperformed peers in larger classes (22-26 students) on standardized tests, and the benefits persisted for years after.

We analyzed data from 114,968 public schools across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. to rank every state by average student-teacher ratio. Below you’ll find the complete rankings, breakdowns by school level, and what these numbers actually mean for your child.

What Student-Teacher Ratio Actually Measures

Student-teacher ratio is the number of students enrolled divided by the number of full-time-equivalent (FTE) teachers. It’s reported by every school to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

It’s not the same as class size. A school with a 15:1 student-teacher ratio might have classes of 25-30 students because the ratio counts all certified teachers, including specialists, special education staff, and those without a homeroom. Actual class sizes are typically 30-50% larger than the reported ratio.

Still, student-teacher ratio is the best standardized, nationally comparable metric for how well-staffed a school is. And state averages reveal real patterns in funding priorities, teacher supply, and educational philosophy.

Complete State Rankings: Student-Teacher Ratio (2026)

Ranked from lowest (most teachers per student) to highest. Data covers all public schools reporting to NCES.

Top 10 States — Lowest Student-Teacher Ratios

Rank	State	Avg. Ratio	Schools Analyzed
1	Maine	10.4:1	661
2	New Hampshire	10.6:1	635
3	Vermont	10.6:1	378
4	Washington, D.C.	10.8:1	302
5	Massachusetts	11.0:1	2,315
6	New Jersey	11.0:1	3,253
7	Wyoming	11.2:1	363
8	New York	11.3:1	5,912
9	Connecticut	11.5:1	1,248
10	Montana	12.0:1	923

Pattern: The Northeast dominates the top 10. Six of the top 10 are New England or Mid-Atlantic states. These states generally have higher per-pupil spending, stronger teachers’ unions, and smaller rural schools that bring averages down.

Wyoming and Montana make the list for a different reason: low population density means many small rural schools with naturally low enrollment per teacher.

States 11-25 — Below the National Average

Rank	State	Avg. Ratio	Schools Analyzed
11	North Dakota	12.0:1	535
12	Missouri	12.3:1	2,784
13	West Virginia	12.6:1	733
14	Maryland	12.8:1	1,891
15	Rhode Island	12.8:1	389
16	South Carolina	13.0:1	1,483
17	Arkansas	13.1:1	1,166
18	Pennsylvania	13.1:1	4,450
19	Georgia	13.2:1	2,914
20	Mississippi	13.2:1	1,023
21	Nebraska	13.2:1	1,172
22	Delaware	13.3:1	296
23	Hawaii	13.3:1	400
24	Illinois	13.4:1	4,778
25	South Dakota	13.4:1	745

States 26-40 — At or Above the National Average

Rank	State	Avg. Ratio	Schools Analyzed
26	Virginia	13.4:1	2,519
27	Kansas	13.6:1	1,448
28	Texas	13.8:1	10,020
29	New Mexico	14.3:1	1,026
30	Wisconsin	14.3:1	2,859
31	Iowa	14.4:1	1,471
32	Minnesota	14.4:1	2,564
33	North Carolina	14.4:1	3,217
34	Kentucky	14.7:1	1,638
35	Louisiana	14.9:1	1,572
36	Indiana	15.1:1	2,429
37	Tennessee	15.4:1	2,226
38	Oklahoma	15.7:1	1,892
39	Colorado	16.0:1	2,141
40	Alabama	16.1:1	1,620

Bottom 10 States — Highest Student-Teacher Ratios

Rank	State	Avg. Ratio	Schools Analyzed
41	Arizona	16.4:1	1,770
42	Idaho	16.4:1	879
43	Ohio	16.7:1	4,414
44	Washington	16.8:1	2,730
45	Florida	16.9:1	5,663
46	Oregon	17.0:1	1,501
47	Michigan	17.1:1	3,842
48	Alaska	19.0:1	508
49	California	19.4:1	12,316
50	Utah	20.9:1	1,158
51	Nevada	22.8:1	796

What stands out: California, the most populous state, has the third-worst student-teacher ratio in the country at 19.4:1. With over 12,000 schools, that’s not a statistical quirk. It reflects long-running teacher shortages and budget constraints that affect millions of students.

Nevada is dead last at 22.8:1, more than double Vermont’s ratio. Utah (20.9:1) rounds out the bottom three, driven by high birth rates and large family sizes that push enrollment faster than teacher hiring can keep up.

Elementary vs. High School: Where Ratios Diverge

Student-teacher ratios aren’t uniform across grade levels. In most states, elementary schools have lower ratios than high schools, reflecting both policy choices (smaller classes for younger students) and the reality that high school teachers often handle more students across multiple class periods.

States With the Biggest Elementary-to-High-School Gap

State	Elementary Avg.	High School Avg.	Gap
Virginia	13.1:1	16.6:1	+3.5
Washington	14.7:1	18.9:1	+4.2
Colorado	15.8:1	16.7:1	+0.9
South Carolina	12.6:1	14.7:1	+2.1
Oregon	16.1:1	18.3:1	+2.2

In Virginia, high school students face a ratio 3.5 points higher than elementary students. Washington state has the widest absolute gap at 4.2 points.

States Where High Schools Are Actually Better Staffed

A few states buck the trend, with high schools reporting lower ratios than elementary schools:

State	Elementary Avg.	High School Avg.	Gap
Vermont	11.6:1	9.0:1	-2.6
Texas	14.0:1	13.7:1	-0.3
Pennsylvania	12.7:1	12.4:1	-0.3

Vermont’s high schools average just 9.0 students per teacher, the lowest high-school ratio of any state. This reflects Vermont’s tiny school sizes and rural character, with many high schools serving small communities.

What Does the Research Say About Student-Teacher Ratio?

The STAR Study

The Tennessee STAR (Student-Teacher Achievement Ratio) study remains the gold standard. Running from 1985-1989, it randomly assigned over 11,000 students to small classes (13-17 students) or regular classes (22-26 students). Key findings:

Students in small classes scored significantly higher on standardized tests
The effect was strongest for minority students and students from low-income families
Benefits persisted through at least 8th grade, even after students returned to regular-size classes
Small-class students were more likely to take college entrance exams

When Does Ratio Matter Most?

Research suggests student-teacher ratio matters most in these contexts:

Grades K-3: The STAR study’s strongest effects were in the earliest grades. If you’re choosing an elementary school, ratio is one of the most important metrics to consider.
Students with learning differences: Smaller classes give teachers more time per student, which directly benefits students who need extra support.
High-poverty schools: In schools with high percentages of students from low-income families, smaller ratios are associated with narrowing achievement gaps.

When Ratio Matters Less

High school AP/IB courses: These self-selected courses often have larger class sizes with highly motivated students. The teaching quality and curriculum matter more than the number of seats.
Schools with strong instructional aides: Some schools with higher ratios compensate with paraprofessionals and teaching assistants who aren’t counted in the official ratio.
Online or hybrid programs: Virtual schools report student-teacher ratios, but the metric means something fundamentally different when instruction isn’t happening in a physical classroom.

How to Use This Data When Choosing a School

State averages tell you about policy and funding, but individual schools vary enormously within every state. A school in California might have a 12:1 ratio while the state averages 19.4:1. Here’s how to make this data actionable:

1. Compare schools against their state average. A school with a 14:1 ratio in Maine (state avg: 10.4) is actually below average for its state, while the same ratio in California (state avg: 19.4) is significantly better than the norm.

2. Look at elementary schools more carefully. If your child is in grades K-3, student-teacher ratio is one of the strongest predictors of outcomes. Prioritize it.

3. Check the school-level data, not just the ratio. On School Scout, every school profile shows the student-teacher ratio alongside test scores, demographics, and ratings. A low ratio at a school with poor test scores might indicate staffing challenges rather than small, effective classes. Look up any school’s student-teacher ratio on School Scout →

4. Ask about actual class sizes. When you visit a school, ask: “What is the typical class size in my child’s grade?” The answer will almost always be higher than the reported student-teacher ratio.

5. Consider it alongside other metrics. Student-teacher ratio is one factor. Academic performance, growth scores, school culture, and your child’s specific needs all matter too. Our school ratings guide explains how to weigh these factors together.

Methodology

This analysis uses data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data, the most comprehensive federal dataset on U.S. public schools. We analyzed 114,968 schools across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., excluding territories.

Student-teacher ratio is calculated by NCES as total enrollment divided by full-time-equivalent (FTE) teachers. Schools reporting a ratio of 0 or with missing data were excluded from state averages.

Rankings reflect the simple average of all reporting schools in each state. This means small rural schools and large urban schools are weighted equally, which may differ from enrollment-weighted averages you see elsewhere.

Data source: NCES Common Core of Data via MySchoolScout. Rankings based on 2023-24 school year data, the most recent available. Last updated March 2026.