The state already ranks first in the number of children without medical coverage.

The fact that the state ranks worse than average as a whole simply reflects its large black population.

The state now ranks 46th in the nation for supporting public education.

Last fall, the state ranked the junior high school among the worst performers in the city.

The state ranked second to last in children with health insurance.

To this end, the state ranked 709 medical procedures and decided it could afford to cover the first 587 on the list.

The state currently ranks 20th in the nation for bankruptcies.

Instead, he noted that the state ranks low in job retention and creation.

Those states rank 49th, 40th and 50th, respectively, in the amount of federal aid they receive per tax dollar, according to the study.

The state ranked 2nd nationwide for natural gas production in 2007.