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Evan BrooksData Editor
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While much attention goes to counties with higher measured school signals, understanding lower-score counties is also important for public education research. The SchoolsByCounty School Score identifies counties where the available metrics point to weaker reported school-finance or completion signals.
A low School Score means that, on the composite of available metrics, these counties fall in the lower tier nationally. Some may report spending above average but lower graduation rates. Others may report stronger completion while still showing constrained school-finance signals.
The 25 Counties with the Lowest School Scores
Ranked by School Score from lowest to highest.
Rank
1
County
- State
- Oregon
- School Score
- 0.4
- Graduation Rate
- 33.6%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,865
Rank
2
- State
- Alaska
- School Score
- 0.5
- Graduation Rate
- 66.3%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $3,314
Rank
3
County
- State
- Georgia
- School Score
- 0.8
- Graduation Rate
- 21.5%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,074
Rank
4
County
- State
- Idaho
- School Score
- 0.9
- Graduation Rate
- 65.3%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,883
Rank
5
County
- State
- Colorado
- School Score
- 1.2
- Graduation Rate
- 57.9%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,152
Rank
6
County
- State
- Arizona
- School Score
- 1.7
- Graduation Rate
- 71.8%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,007
Rank
7
County
- State
- Oregon
- School Score
- 1.8
- Graduation Rate
- 66.8%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,291
Rank
8
County
- State
- Oklahoma
- School Score
- 2.5
- Graduation Rate
- 73.7%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,214
Rank
9
County
- State
- Oklahoma
- School Score
- 3
- Graduation Rate
- 71.0%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,428
Rank
10
County
- State
- Michigan
- School Score
- 3.8
- Graduation Rate
- 58.9%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,655
Rank
11
County
- State
- Idaho
- School Score
- 3.9
- Graduation Rate
- 76.2%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,060
Rank
12
County
- State
- Oklahoma
- School Score
- 3.9
- Graduation Rate
- 74.4%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,455
Rank
13
County
- State
- Indiana
- School Score
- 4
- Graduation Rate
- 77.2%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,410
Rank
14
County
- State
- Mississippi
- School Score
- 4.1
- Graduation Rate
- 75.0%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,375
Rank
15
County
- State
- Alaska
- School Score
- 4.2
- Graduation Rate
- 72.0%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,596
Rank
16
County
- State
- Arizona
- School Score
- 4.3
- Graduation Rate
- 78.0%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,792
Rank
17
County
- State
- Idaho
- School Score
- 4.5
- Graduation Rate
- 76.1%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,265
Rank
18
County
- State
- Georgia
- School Score
- 4.8
- Graduation Rate
- 75.0%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- N/A
Rank
19
County
- State
- Arizona
- School Score
- 4.9
- Graduation Rate
- 77.1%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,251
Rank
20
County
- State
- Oklahoma
- School Score
- 5
- Graduation Rate
- 69.2%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,730
Rank
21
County
- State
- Oklahoma
- School Score
- 5.1
- Graduation Rate
- 76.2%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,390
Rank
22
County
- State
- Mississippi
- School Score
- 5.5
- Graduation Rate
- 76.0%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,481
Rank
23
County
- State
- Idaho
- School Score
- 5.8
- Graduation Rate
- 80.0%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,848
Rank
24
County
- State
- Florida
- School Score
- 6
- Graduation Rate
- 77.0%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,496
Rank
25
County
- State
- Colorado
- School Score
- 6.2
- Graduation Rate
- 80.5%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,966
| Rank | County | State | School Score | Graduation Rate | Per-Pupil Spending |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wheeler County | Oregon | 0.4 | 33.6% | $4,865 |
| 2 | Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | Alaska | 0.5 | 66.3% | $3,314 |
| 3 | Candler County | Georgia | 0.8 | 21.5% | $5,074 |
| 4 | Elmore County | Idaho | 0.9 | 65.3% | $4,883 |
| 5 | Bent County | Colorado | 1.2 | 57.9% | $5,152 |
| 6 | Pima County | Arizona | 1.7 | 71.8% | $5,007 |
| 7 | Coos County | Oregon | 1.8 | 66.8% | $5,291 |
| 8 | Washington County | Oklahoma | 2.5 | 73.7% | $5,214 |
| 9 | Oklahoma County | Oklahoma | 3 | 71.0% | $5,428 |
| 10 | Manistee County | Michigan | 3.8 | 58.9% | $5,655 |
| 11 | Canyon County | Idaho | 3.9 | 76.2% | $5,060 |
| 12 | Latimer County | Oklahoma | 3.9 | 74.4% | $5,455 |
| 13 | Randolph County | Indiana | 4 | 77.2% | $4,410 |
| 14 | Leflore County | Mississippi | 4.1 | 75.0% | $5,375 |
| 15 | Denali Borough | Alaska | 4.2 | 72.0% | $5,596 |
| 16 | Pinal County | Arizona | 4.3 | 78.0% | $4,792 |
| 17 | Jerome County | Idaho | 4.5 | 76.1% | $5,265 |
| 18 | Taliaferro County | Georgia | 4.8 | 75.0% | N/A |
| 19 | Maricopa County | Arizona | 4.9 | 77.1% | $5,251 |
| 20 | Comanche County | Oklahoma | 5 | 69.2% | $5,730 |
| 21 | Texas County | Oklahoma | 5.1 | 76.2% | $5,390 |
| 22 | Grenada County | Mississippi | 5.5 | 76.0% | $5,481 |
| 23 | Minidoka County | Idaho | 5.8 | 80.0% | $4,848 |
| 24 | Gadsden County | Florida | 6 | 77.0% | $5,496 |
| 25 | La Plata County | Colorado | 6.2 | 80.5% | $4,966 |
Ranking Data Profile
Within this lowest School Score list, values run from 0.4 to 6.2, with a median of 4. This range matters because counties near the middle of the table can be closer to each other than the rank numbers suggest.
Oklahoma contributes 5 of the 25 counties in this table. State clustering can point to funding formulas, reporting practices, district geography, or regional enrollment patterns that deserve local review.
0 ranked counties lack a reported graduation-rate value in this table, and 1 lack a reported per-pupil spending value. Missing companion fields are shown as not reported rather than estimated.
Regional Pattern in This Ranking
The most represented states are Oklahoma (5), Idaho (4), and Arizona (3), together accounting for 12 of 25 counties in the table. County school metrics are shaped by state finance rules, state graduation reporting, district boundaries, enrollment scale, and regional labor markets.
For a lowest School Score list, state clustering is a research cue rather than an explanation. Compare counties inside the same state first, then use national comparisons once the state baseline is clear.
Notable Counties in the Table
The ranking rows are linked to county profiles so each record can be checked against school lists, district context, and local source notes. These rows show the range inside the table:
- Wheeler County, OR ranks #1 with a School Score of 0.4; related signals show 33.6% graduation rate and $4,865 per pupil.
- Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK ranks #2 with a School Score of 0.5; related signals show 66.3% graduation rate and $3,314 per pupil.
- Candler County, GA ranks #3 with a School Score of 0.8; related signals show 21.5% graduation rate and $5,074 per pupil.
- Elmore County, ID ranks #4 with a School Score of 0.9; related signals show 65.3% graduation rate and $4,883 per pupil.
- Bent County, CO ranks #5 with a School Score of 1.2; related signals show 57.9% graduation rate and $5,152 per pupil.
How to Use This Ranking
Rankings are useful when they help you decide where to look next. They are weaker when treated as a final verdict on a county or school system.
- Open each county profile to see whether the lowest School Score is driven more by completion, spending, school coverage, or district structure.
- Compare the county against its state average before comparing it nationally; state finance formulas and reporting rules shape the baseline.
- Use the county school list as the next step, because a county average can hide differences between districts and individual schools.
Data Caveats for School Score Rankings
The School Score is a percentile-rank composite, so a lowest rank is best used for screening. It does not grade curriculum, school climate, teacher retention, advanced coursework, or individual student fit.
Missing or suppressed federal data can affect county coverage. When two counties have close scores, treat the rank order as directional and use the underlying graduation and finance fields for the next comparison.
Common Data Signals in Low-Scoring Counties
These counties typically show overlapping data signals:
- Below-average spending: Per-pupil spending well below the national average can indicate tighter operating budgets.
- Limited school-level coverage: Some counties have fewer public schools or more fragmented reporting, which makes school-level comparison harder.
- Lower reported completion: Graduation rates below state or national averages should prompt review of state accountability data.
- Geographic isolation: Rural counties far from metros may face transportation and staffing constraints that do not appear directly in county score tables.
- State funding context: County figures should be read against each state's finance formula and reporting rules.
Methodology
The School Score is a percentile-rank composite of available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance metrics. A score of 25 means the county performs better than only 25% of scored counties. County pages also show school counts, district context, and school-level enrollment where available.
Sources and Review
Data vintage: NCES 2022-23 public school and school-finance releases. Data sources are selected for this article's metric focus. County figures are informational estimates and may differ from other published analyses due to methodology, aggregation, suppression, or reporting-year differences. Last editorial review checked source links, data vintage, visible caveats, and county-profile links.
Continue the Research
Use this article as a starting point, then verify county-level signals against official district and state records.