LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas' public schools are fifth in the country in Education Week's annual rankings.

The publication released its 2013 "Quality Counts" rankings Thursday. Arkansas' overall grade was a B minus.

Arkansas received an A grade for its standards, assessments and accountability. It also got an A for transitions and alignment, which tracks state policy efforts to coordinate kindergarten through 12th grade education with early learning, post-secondary education and the workforce.

But the publication gave Arkansas a D grade for kindergarten through 12th grade achievement.

Maryland received the highest score in the survey, followed by Massachusetts, New York and Virginia.

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