Education Choice
School Choice by State: All 50 States Ranked
School choice has expanded fast — several states now offer universal education savings accounts (ESAs), while others limit families to their assigned district school. This ranking scores all 50 states on education choice, covering vouchers, ESAs, tax-credit scholarships, charters, and homeschool freedom.
Score reflects vouchers, education savings accounts (ESAs), tax-credit scholarships, charter access, and homeschool freedom. Darker green = stronger; click any state for its full breakdown.
All 50 states ranked
- 1AZArizona9.7A+
- 2NHNew Hampshire9.1A+
- 3FLFlorida9.1A+
- 4ARArkansas8.8A
- 5WVWest Virginia8.5A
- 6OHOhio8.5A
- 7INIndiana7.9B+
- 8LALouisiana7.9B+
- 9UTUtah7.6B+
- 10TNTennessee7.6B+
- 11OKOklahoma7.6B+
- 12ALAlabama7.6B+
- 13IAIowa7.6B+
- 14MTMontana7.3B
- 15NCNorth Carolina7.3B
- 16IDIdaho7.0B
- 17AKAlaska7.0B
- 18TXTexas7.0B
- 19WIWisconsin6.9B-
- 20GAGeorgia6.4C+
- 21MNMinnesota6.3C+
- 22WYWyoming6.0C+
- 23ILIllinois6.0C+
- 24SCSouth Carolina5.8C
- 25MOMissouri5.7C
- 26PAPennsylvania5.7C
- 27NVNevada5.2C-
- 28SDSouth Dakota4.9D+
- 29VAVirginia4.9D+
- 30MSMississippi4.9D+
- 31RIRhode Island4.8D+
- 32KSKansas4.6D+
- 33MDMaryland4.5D+
- 34VTVermont4.1D
- 35MEMaine4.0D
- 36NDNorth Dakota1.5F
- 37MIMichigan1.5F
- 38NMNew Mexico1.5F
- 39NENebraska1.5F
- 40COColorado1.5F
- 41CTConnecticut1.5F
- 42WAWashington1.5F
- 43OROregon1.5F
- 44KYKentucky1.5F
- 45NJNew Jersey1.5F
- 46MAMassachusetts1.5F
- 47CACalifornia1.5F
- 48DEDelaware1.5F
- 49NYNew York1.5F
- 50HIHawaii1.5F
Further reading
What Is an Education Savings Account (ESA)? School Choice by State in 2026
Education savings accounts let families spend public education dollars on private school, tutoring, and more. Here is how ESAs work and which states have universal school choice in 2026.
Homeschool Laws by State: The Freest and Most Regulated (2026)
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, but the rules range from zero paperwork to testing and home visits. Here is how the regulation tiers work and which states are strictest.
Common questions
Which state has the best school choice?
Arizona ranks #1 for education choice, scoring 9.7/10 — usually a state with a universal or near-universal ESA program that lets education funding follow the child. The full ranking is above.
What states have universal school choice?
A growing group of states have enacted universal or near-universal ESA/voucher programs open to all or most families. They lead this ranking; states that limit choice to a single assigned district school fall to the bottom.
Which states have the least school choice?
Hawaii ranks lowest on education choice, reflecting few or no private-choice programs and limited charter or homeschool flexibility.
Where does the school-choice data come from?
The education-choice score draws on EdChoice’s ABCs of School Choice and related sources, scoring program availability, eligibility, and funding. See the methodology page for details.