Southern schools rank high in Education Week report card

In a survey of problems afflicting Southern states, troubled schools are usually at the top of the list. But if the results of the latest Education Week report card are to be believed, there's some good news for the South:

* Of the 13 states nationally getting a "B" grade (no state received an "A"), five are in the South: In order of score, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas, South Carolina (!) and Georgia.

* Florida and Tennessee narrowly missed getting into the "B" tier, both earning a C+.

* Adding in Kentucky and Louisiana, 70% of the 13 Southern states rank above the national average. In this report, that brings the South close to the Northeast in terms of educational quality (which has six B-level states, and also nine above the national average).

The Education Week report is widely cited because it goes beyond just looking at test scores to also evaluate issues like funding equity and policy initiatives to improve schools.

For example, as Southern Political Report notes Southern schools rank especially high for how the treat teachers:

We've become accustomed to seeing Southern states at the bottom ofeducation rankings that it's a little jarring to see the magazine'ssubcategory, "the teaching profession," which grades pay, workingconditions and programs for teachers in each state. In this category,Southern states hold the top 10 spots, with South Carolina the onlystate in the country to score an A.

The news wasn't all good for the South, though. Texas, Alabama and North Carolina -- a state which has prized itself on making K-12 education a priority -- all ranked below the national average. And Mississippi rated a D+ -- although that was better than in some other years.

Southern states also still lag the Northeast and Midwest in how well they fund education -- although the South is doing better than many states in the West.