Georgia is among the nation’s top 10 states in education performance and policy, according to a report from Education Week magazine released Thursday.

With an overall grade of 79.7, or a B-, the state is ranked seventh on the “Quality Counts” report when taking into account factors such as K-12 achievement, standards, teaching and school finance. Georgia was eighth in last year’s report.

By comparison, the United States as a whole received a C. Maryland, which has been at the top of the list for four straight years, got a B+.

The state’s grades in individual areas varied greatly in the report.

Georgia received A’s in the standards, early childhood education, and economy and work force categories, as well as an A- for standards, and assessments and accountability. The state received a D- in spending and an F for its current status in K-12 achievement.

However, state officials also noted its achievement gap closure in math among poor eighth-graders, gains in fourth-grade reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and success with Advanced Placement testing.

“We are very pleased with the overall marks that Education Week gave Georgia for its commitment to education,” state school Superintendent John Barge said in a statement. “While there is still plenty of work to do to improve education in Georgia, it’s good to see others recognizing some of the improvements that are happening in our state through the extraordinary work of our students, teachers, and leaders.”

The full report is available at www.edweek.org/go/qc12.

To contact writer Andrea Castillo, call 744-4331.