Maryland’s public school system was named the best in the nation for the third straight year in an independent report. Virginia stood strong in fourth place in Education Week’s annual “Quality Counts” report, while the District dangled at the bottom, above only Nebraska, as the nation stagnated as a whole.

“As Maryland’s largest district, we are proud of the significant role our staff and students have played in Maryland’s continued high performance,” said Dana Tofig, Montgomery County Public Schools spokesman. At a county school board meeting Tuesday, outgoing Superintendent Jerry Weast could barely speak five words without announcing the good news.