Quality Counts 2016 State and National Highlights Reports
The Quality Counts 2016 Highlights Reports capture all of the data you need to assess your state鈥檚 performance in key areas. The information is presented in a series of charts and graphs, and includes comparisons to national averages. You won鈥檛 want to miss your state鈥檚 data, so download your copy now:
State Highlights Reports are available for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia and compare individual state data to national data. The National Highlights Report includes the national average and data for the top and bottom states.
Your Report Includes
State Summative Grades
Chance-for-Success Index (2016)
K-12 Achievement (2016)
School Finance (2016)
Special for Quality Counts 2016
NAEP Achievement Analysis (2016)
- Combined proficiency rate in 4th and 8th grade reading and math
- Achievement gains over time
- Preschool poverty gap and poverty-gap changes
You may also like reports from previous years:
About These Reports
The 20th annual edition of Quality Counts continues Education Week鈥檚 long-standing tradition of grading the states on their performance. The overall grades for the nation and the states are the average of scores on the three separate indices tracked by the report.
This year鈥檚 report also focuses on educational accountability as its special theme. The report examines how new state and federal strategies are transforming the assessment of school performance and reshaping the consequences for poor results. As part of this project, the Education Week Research Center conducted an original analysis of student achievement in the No Child Left Behind era. The analysis highlights results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress from 2003 to 2015. It examines achievement, poverty-based gaps, and trends over time.
Overall findings from Quality Counts show that some states perform consistently well or poorly across the full range of graded categories. However, a closer examination of the results reveals that most states post a strong showing in at least one area. This suggests that while broad evaluations of state rankings and performance can be useful, a deeper reading of the results presented in this State Highlights Report will provide a more nuanced perspective on the educational condition of the nation and the states.
In March 2024, Education Week announced the end of the Quality Counts report after 25 years of serving as a comprehensive K-12 education scorecard. In response to new challenges and a shifting landscape, we are refocusing our efforts on research and analysis to better serve the K-12 community. For more information, please go here for the full context or learn more about the EdWeek Research Center.