NY ranks near bottom for racial equality in education

New York ranks among the states with the largest racial disparities in education, according to a new study from WalletHub.

Although school segregation was ruled unconstitutional more than 70 years ago, educational outcomes and access to resources continue to vary significantly by race across the United States.

A 2025 study from Brown University found that school districts with lower percentages of Black and Hispanic students receive roughly $900 to $1,000 more per student in funding than districts serving larger shares of those populations. Researchers concluded that decades of school finance reforms have not fully eliminated racial funding gaps.

According to WalletHub, those disparities can contribute to differences in educational achievement and, ultimately, employment and income opportunities later in life.

“It is essential to ensure that all school districts receive sufficient funding, the latest technology and equal opportunities for tutoring and extracurricular activities, regardless of their racial composition,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. “This will help bridge racial gaps in test scores and graduation rates and promote equal opportunities for higher education and employment.”

To determine which states have the most racial equality in education, WalletHub compared all 50 states across six measures, including educational attainment, graduation rates and standardized test scores among Black and white residents.

New York ranks among the worst states for racial equality in education

New York ranked No. 44 overall, making it the seventh-worst state for racial equality in education, according to WalletHub.

The Empire State received an overall score of 31.63 out of 100.

The study also found that New York has the fourth-largest gap in bachelor’s degree attainment between white and Black adults. Only Colorado, New Jersey and Connecticut ranked worse in that category.

States with the highest racial equality in education

According to WalletHub, the 10 highest-ranked states are:

1. Wyoming
2. West Virginia
3. New Mexico
4. Oregon
5. Kentucky
6. Vermont
7. Maine
8. North Dakota
9. Tennessee
10. Hawaii

States with the lowest racial equality in education

The 10 lowest-ranked states are:

1. Wisconsin
2. Connecticut
3. New Jersey
4. Nebraska
5. Minnesota
6. Pennsylvania
7. New York
8. California
9. Massachusetts
10. South Carolina

How WalletHub measured racial equality in education

WalletHub compared states using six metrics that measure differences between white and Black residents:

• Share of adults with at least a high school diploma
• Share of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree
• Standardized test scores
• Average SAT scores
• Average ACT scores
• Public high school graduation rates

The data was collected through May 5, 2026, and sourced from organizations including the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Center for Education Statistics, ACT and College Board.

— Madison Scott is a New York Connect reporter, covering entertainment, breaking and consumer news, and trending topics with a focus on stories that matter to readers across New York State. She also has an interest in how the system helps or doesn’t help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@USATodayco.com.