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Bismarck, N.D. (AP) An education report card gives North Dakota a C grade, the same grade the state received a year ago and equal to the national average.

Quality Counts 2009 is Education Week's annual state-by-state analysis of public education.

The report, released Wednesday, ranks North Dakota 10th in the nation on a "Chance for Success" index, which rated all 50 states on how well they give their young people an opportunity to succeed later in life. The state was ranked ninth last year.

The report gave North Dakota a D-plus in teacher quality.

The report says North Dakota spent $10,885 per student in the 2006 school year, ranking it 17th out of the 50 states and District of Columbia and putting it above the national average of $9,963.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 01-06-09 2301CST | save this article / add to your favorites list