You're making a generalization that just isn't true. My kids go to a gret public school system. I'm quite happy with the education they're receiving. (This is coming from a guy who attended one of the best public school systems in the US and went to college at Vanderbilt University, so I know what a good school is.)

Here is my test of how good a school really is. The conversation among the NON-valedictorians is:

Poor: "Why should I go to university?"

Ok: "Are you going to university?"

Better: "Which university are you going to?"

Best: "Are you going to X, Y, Z university?"

In other words, how much does the community value education?

Red states as demonstrated by their budget choices do not value education. There may be a few local exceptions. As a general statement, Kansas budget choices has demonstrated hostility to quality education. Kansas has demonstrated that tax cuts > education.