September 26, 2016
The tri-state area fared well in a recent ranking of the best and worst states for teachers in the United States.
New Jersey was named the best state overall while Pennsylvania and Delaware both earned spots in the top 20, according to a list released Monday by WalletHub.
To determine the rankings, the personal finance company examined 16 factors that affect teacher satisfaction.
The list was compiled to help young teachers find better environments to begin their careers. According to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics, one in five new teachers leaves a job before their first year.
Low starting salaries and a lack of support from the school system are blamed for the high turnover rate.
New Jersey topped the list due to offering the fourth-lowest ratio of pupils to students, the third-highest spending per public school student, and the second-best "School Systems" ranking which accounts for testing scores and bullying incidents.
Pennsylvania, which ranked 11th overall, was bolstered by the third-highest annual salary for teachers in the nation.
Delaware earned the No. 19 spot, scoring high marks for a strong work environment but lagging behind in teacher pay.
Massachusetts, Illinois, Minnesota and Wyoming rounded out the top five behind New Jersey. Hawaii was named the worst state for teachers.
