Nevada tops the list as the state with the most severe teacher shortage, with a staggering 25.4 students per teacher, well above the national average of roughly 14.9.

Vermont performs best, boasting the lowest student-to-teacher ratio at just 10.6, signaling a more favorable classroom environment.

Western states dominate the top 5, including Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and California, all grappling with overcrowded classrooms.

Fast-growing populations in states like Utah and Idaho may be outpacing their ability to hire enough teachers to meet demand.

States with high living costs, like California and Alaska, struggle to attract and retain teachers despite large education budgets.

East Coast states such as Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York round out the bottom 10 with the best ratios, reflecting stronger staffing levels.

Teachers are the backbone of every classroom, yet many states across the U.S. are struggling to keep enough of them in front of students. Teacher shortages have been brewing for years, but now, a perfect storm of high turnover, population booms, and low pay in some regions is pushing the system to a tipping point. Overcrowded classrooms not only strain teachers but also risk undermining the quality of education for millions of students.

A new study conducted by University of Technology Sydney Online reveals where the problem is most severe. Using data from the National Education Association, the study ranks all 50 states and Washington, D.C., based on their student-to-teacher ratios, a clear indicator of where schools are feeling the pressure.

Full list of states most in need of teachers: 

Rank State Students per teacher

1 Nevada 25.4

2 Arizona 22.8

3 Utah 22.2

4 Florida 20.7

5 California 20

6 Alaska 18.7

7 Idaho 17.8

8 Oregon 17.4

9 Ohio 17.2

10 Indiana 16.9

11 Michigan 16.7

12 Washington 16.7

13 Colorado 16.5

14 Kentucky 16.4

15 Oklahoma 16.4

16 Hawaii 15.5

17 Alabama 15.4

18 Arkansas 15.3

19 Minnesota 15.2

20 North Carolina 14.9

21 Texas 14.8

22 Tennessee 14.7

23 Wisconsin 14.6

24 Georgia 14.5

25 South Carolina 14.5

26 Louisiana 14.2

27 Maryland 14.2

28 Kansas 14.1

29 Delaware 14

30 Illinois 13.8

31 Pennsylvania 13.8

32 South Dakota 13.8

33 Mississippi 13.7

34 New Mexico 13.7

35 Montana 13.6

36 Iowa 13.4

37 West Virginia 13

38 Rhode Island 12.7

39 Wyoming 12.6

40 North Dakota 12.5

41 Nebraska 12.4

42 Connecticut 12.2

43 Virginia 11.9

44 Maine 11.8

45 Massachusetts 11.8

46 New Jersey 11.8

47 Missouri 11.7

48 Dist.Columbia 11.3

49 New York 11.1

50 New Hampshire 10.7

51 Vermont 10.6

Methodology 

The study used public US data on student-to-teacher ratios to identify which states face the greatest need for teachers due to high numbers of students per teacher.

Source: National Education Association