One of the most divisive topics in American politics is education, and this is evident in Florida.

Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of the state, has built his political reputation on opposing what he refers to as the "woke" influence on education policy. He even built his entire 2024 presidential campaign around the idea that his work in the Sunshine State would persuade voters across the country to support him for president.

Sadly, DeSantis' plan to make America Florida did not sit well with Republican voters in places like Iowa and New Hampshire. As a result, he was forced to withdraw from the campaign after finishing far behind former President Donald Trump in the Iowa caucuses.

Florida's Academic Achievement

Florida, which ranks ninth overall in the Best States rankings, has the second-highest rates of timely graduation among students pursuing two- and four-year degrees at public universities. Additionally, in-state tuition and fees for students attending its public, four-year universities were the lowest on average across the nation. Regarding two other metrics related to higher education, the state performed mediocrely: the percentage of individuals in the state who are 25 years of age or older who possess at least an associate degree, and the average amount of federal student loan debt held by young adults.

Florida led the nation in college preparedness, which is measured by the percentage of 12th graders who received good scores on the SAT, ACT, or both. It equaled Illinois for 19th place in the United States for high school graduation rate, ranked No. 12 for preschool enrollment, and Nos. 21 and 32 for math and reading scores in the eighth grade, respectively.

Florida's School System by the Numbers

In the education category, Florida ranked #1 on the list of the 2024 Best States. In the PreK–12 subcategory, the state was ranked No. 10, and in the Higher Education subcategory, No. 1.

"Florida is the No. 1 state in the nation for education," DeSantis declared in a statement in mid-April after signing legislation that, among other things, facilitated the conversion of failing schools into charter schools. Our stance against classroom indoctrination and emphasis on fundamental intellectual subjects have made us leaders in the field of education. The laws I signed today carry forward the progress Florida has made in the past.

Notably, the April measure DeSantis signed also restricted the power of parents whose children do not attend a specific school district to protest books used in that district. This effectively improved earlier DeSantis-signed legislation, which has allegedly sparked a wave of book removals or restrictions in schools.

Strong job growth and general economic expansion contributed to Florida's ascent to the top of the Best States rankings. With a nearly 5% compound annual growth rate over the past the past three years, the state ranked second in the US for jobs. With a GDP growth rate of more than 6%, it outperformed the rest of the country.

In the economy category, Florida ranked first on the list of the 2024 Best States. In the three associated subcategories of growth (No. 2), employment (No. 7), and business environment (No. 13), the state performed admirably.

Between 2010 and 2022, the state's population grew by 18% to 22.24 million, whereas the national population increased by roughly 8% over the same time frame.