Here Are The Best And Worst States For Language Education
The United States has a pretty bad reputation in regard to language education. And honestly, the criticism is valid. In total, only 20% of American students are learning a second language, compared to an average of 92% of students in European countries.
That being said, some U.S. states are better than others when it comes to language education. A report published by the American Councils for International Education reveals the percentage of K-12 students enrolled in a foreign language class. The results vary widely from state to state, ranging from over half to less than 10% of the student population learning a language. Read on to find out where your state falls in language education enrollment.
States With Highest Language Education Enrollment
5. Vermont
Foreign language enrollment: 35.03%
Top 3 languages: Spanish, French, Latin
4. Maryland
Foreign language enrollment: 35.23%
Top 3 languages: Spanish, French, Chinese
3. Wisconsin
Foreign language enrollment: 36.29%
Top 3 languages: Spanish, French, German
2. Washington, D.C.
Foreign language enrollment: 47.17%
Top 3 languages: Spanish, French, Chinese (but Russian was a close 4th)
1. New Jersey
Foreign language enrollment: 51.18%
Top 3 languages: Spanish, French, Chinese
States With Lowest Language Education Enrollment
46. Oregon
Foreign language enrollment: 10.83%
Top 3 languages: Spanish, French, Chinese
47. Montana
Foreign language enrollment: 10.11%
Top 3 languages: Spanish, French, Chinese
48. Arkansas
Foreign language enrollment: 9.09%
Top 3 languages: Spanish, French, German
49. Arizona
Foreign language enrollment: 9.08%
Top 3 languages: Spanish, French, Chinese
50. New Mexico
Foreign language enrollment: 8.50%
Top 3 languages: Spanish, French, Chinese
K-12 Foreign Language Enrollment By State
- New Jersey — 51.18%
- Washington, D.C. — 47.17%
- Wisconsin — 36.29%
- Maryland — 35.23%
- Vermont — 35.03%
- Delaware — 32.34%
- Connecticut — 28.26%
- New Hampshire — 27.47%
- New York — 27.21%
- Massachusetts — 26.43%
- Michigan — 22.50%
- Rhode Island — 22.45%
- Georgia — 22.23%
- Tennessee — 22.08%
- North Dakota — 21.88%
- Utah — 21.06%
- Florida — 20.88%
- South Carolina — 20.74%
- Minnesota — 20.26%
- Wyoming — 20.05%
- Virginia — 20.03%
- Pennsylvania — 19.94%
- North Carolina — 19.71%
- Indiana — 19.57%
- Maine — 19.01%
- Texas — 18.91%
- South Dakota — 18.63%
- Hawaii — 18.61%
- Ohio — 18.11%
- Nebraska — 17.73%
- Alabama — 17.41%
- Alaska — 16.52%
- Missouri — 15.48%
- Kansas — 15.27%
- Iowa — 15.23%
- Washington — 14.71%
- California — 13.91%
- Mississippi — 13.32%
- Louisiana — 13.27%
- Illinois — 13.05%
- West Virginia — 13.03%
- Colorado — 12.38%
- Nevada — 12.20%
- Idaho — 12.19%
- Oklahoma — 12.16%
- Kentucky — 11.20%
- Oregon — 10.83%
- Montana — 10.11%
- Arkansas — 9.09%
- Arizona — 9.08%
- New Mexico — 8.50%
