Overall ranks are based on four categories: K-12 performance, school funding and resources, higher education quality, and safety. K-12 performance looks at graduation rates, test scores, and reading/math proficiency. School funding includes teacher salaries, student expenditures, and teacher qualifications, while higher education quality evaluates college graduation rates, tuition fees, and funding. Safety focuses on school safety boards, gun violence, and criminal offenses at colleges. #PublicS