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Report: Oklahoma Has the Third-Worst School Systems in the U.S.
Summary by The Waco Editorial Desk · Based on reporting from Waco Tribune-Herald
· July 20, 2026
· 1 min read
Oklahoma has the third-worst school systems in America, according to a new WalletHub study that compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 32 key metrics. The analysis focused on academic performance, safety, class size, instructor credentials and…
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Summary created by The Waco Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Waco Tribune-Herald Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 20, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Why this matters in The Waco
The recent ranking of Oklahoma's school systems as third-worst in the nation raises questions about the comparative performance of schools in neighboring Texas, particularly in McLennan County. While the WalletHub study did not specifically examine local school districts, its metrics such as academic performance, safety, and instructor credentials are relevant to Waco residents who value quality education. As the Waco community continues to grow and attract new families, the quality of local schools will remain a key factor in decisions about where to live and work. Local educators and policymakers may want to examine the study's findings to identify areas where Waco's schools excel or fall short, and consider strategies to improve outcomes for students in McLennan County. By doing so, they can help ensure that Waco's schools remain competitive with other districts in the region.
About this story
Original reporting by Waco Tribune-Herald . The Waco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit Waco Tribune-Herald . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: schools ·
Published: July 20, 2026 ·
Source: Waco Tribune-Herald ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Oklahoma has the third-worst school systems in America, according to a new WalletHub study that compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 32 key metrics. The analysis focused on academic performance, safety, class size, instructor credentials and…
When was this published? This article was first published on July 20, 2026 by Waco Tribune-Herald and curated for The Waco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Waco Tribune-Herald. To learn more about how The Waco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more schools coverage from The Waco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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