Dive Summary:

• Maryland's public school system received the top ranking in Education Week's "Quality Counts" assessment for the fifth year in a row, receiving a "B-plus."
• "Quality Counts" is an annual study that examines state education policies and student achievement nationwide, and its rankings are developed from policy surveys of the states and data from sources including the U.S. Department of Education and the Census Bureau.
• Massachusetts, New York and Virginia placed immediately behind Maryland with "B" grades, while South Dakota placed last with a "D-plus" and the nation received an overall grade of "C-plus."

From the article:

For the fifth year in a row, Maryland’s public school system took the top ranking in an annual study that examines state education policies and student achievement across all 50 states and the District. Education Week gave Maryland a B-plus in its “Quality Counts 2013” assessment. Maryland was the only state to earn the grade. ...