No-Choice States Don't Fare Well in U.S. News Rankings

Seven states currently don't allow charter schools:

• Montana
• Nebraska
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Kentucky
• West Virginia
• Vermont

According to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings of the 2016 Best High Schools, these states didn't fare very well.

Of the 51 states and District of Columbia, here's how they did:
Montana ranked #42
Nebraska ranked #50
North Dakota ranked #48
South Dakota ranked #51 (they didn't provide enough information to be included)
Kentucky ranked #23
West Virginia ranked #27
Vermont ranked #12

Four of the bottom 10 states lack charter schools. This is telling.

Even though Vermont doesn't have charter schools, they rank very well in the list of Best High Schools. Why is this? Vermont has incorporated other school choice measures into its school system for years. For example, the state has had a unique school choice program called "tuitioning" in place for 140 years. Towns that don't maintain elementary grades tuition their students to "one or more schools." These schools may be public or private. This longstanding school choice option has lifted the standards of all of Vermont's schools.

What can Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana do to improve their high schools? There are many answers to this questions, but one of them is adopting charter school laws. 

Nebraska's highest ranking high school placed at #650. This is completely unacceptable, especially for a state that spends so much money on public education. Clearly, the system needs reform. 

Nebraska cannot fall lower in these rankings. If this isn't a wake-up call to parents, concerned citizens, legislators, administrators, and educators, what will it take?