Gov. Polis celebrates Colorado’s first‑place education ranking from U.S. News

July 29, 2026 - 01:51

Colorado earned the number one spot in the nation for education this week, just in time for the state's 150th birthday celebration on Saturday. U.S. News & World Report released its rankings on Tuesday, placing Colorado at the top for its work spanning pre-kindergarten through postsecondary education.

Governor Jared Polis marked the announcement with a visit to the Farrell B. Howell ECE-8 School in east Denver. He spoke with students and staff about the significance of the ranking, which reflects the state's investments in early childhood programs, K-12 funding, and college affordability. The governor highlighted how the ranking shows that Colorado is leading the country in preparing students for success at every stage of their education.

The recognition comes as the state celebrates its sesquicentennial, a milestone that Polis tied directly to the quality of its schools. He noted that a strong education system is key to Colorado's future growth and prosperity. The U.S. News ranking considered factors such as preschool enrollment, high school graduation rates, and college test scores. Colorado's consistent performance across all these areas pushed it ahead of other states, earning the top spot for the first time in this category.