In theory, a state’s school system might be so universally excellent that it has no need to consider offering its students school choice. In reality, no such state exists. And West Virginia doesn’t even come close. On the National Assessment of Educational Progress, it ranks 46th out of 50 states in 8th grade mathematics performance, its students almost an entire grade level behind their peers across the country. The picture for eighth grade reading is little better; West Virginia students rank 45th.