Grok's response:
Arizona’s public schools generally rank among the lowest in the United States, based on various metrics including academic performance, funding, and safety. Here’s a detailed comparison with other states, drawing on available data:Academic PerformanceTest Scores: Arizona struggles with low test scores compared to national averages. According to the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 31% of Arizona students were proficient in reading and 24% in math, significantly below states like Massachusetts, where proficiency rates are among the highest (e.g., top-ranked for 4th and 8th grade math and reading). Arizona’s average ACT score is 19.6, lower than states like Connecticut (25.5) or New Hampshire (25.1).
Graduation Rates: Arizona’s high school graduation rate for the 2018-2019 school year was 78%, notably below the national average of 86.5%. It ties with states like Idaho, Alaska, New Mexico, and Washington, D.C., for one of the highest dropout rates.
Recovery from Pandemic: Arizona students remain about 60% of a grade level behind 2019 levels in both reading and math, ranking 41st in math recovery and 35th in reading recovery among states. Some districts, like Mesa and Sunnyside Unified, lag further (80% or more behind), while others like Dysart and Gilbert Unified have nearly recovered.