States with the best and worst school systems.

• Position: YOUR LIFE - Brief article

In light of back-to-school season and given the strong connection between educational attainment and income potential, personal finance website WalletHub conducted an analysis of 2015's States with the Best & Worst School Systems.

To find the best school systems, WalletHub compared the quality of education in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia by analyzing 13 key metrics, including pupil-teacher ratio, dropout rates, standardized test scores, and bullying incidents rates.

The states with the best school systems, in order, are Massachusetts, Colorado, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Vermont, North Dakota, Minnesota, Connecticut, and Illinois. The worst, starting at the bottom, are Alaska, Washington, D.C., Nevada, Arizona, Louisiana, Oregon, South Carolina, West Virginia, California, and New Mexico.

Some key statistics reveal that:

* The District of Columbia's drop out rate is four times higher than Iowa's.

* California's...