I guess that if you think about it, it does accurately reflect the school's ability to teach. So, it should be important, however, I can't seem to have actually cared about it. An education is an education. As long as I learn the same things here as I do there, what does it really matter?
The state in which you go to school honestly has no bearing at all in my experience. If you are talking about the high school level - all that matters is that you get a diploma; extra curricular things that might show leadership and/or technical knowledge are useful too depending on what jobs you are looking for. If you are talking about college, what's more important is that you go somewhere accredited and that has the degree program you actually want to get a degree in. I heavily stress accreditation; it is literally the most important thing that most schools don't even advertise. almost all for-profit schools are very sketchy when it comes to real credentials or access to proper educational tools; traditional non-profit schools are usually safe; If you are tight on money, state schools are a really safe option too (I believe Texas has a few very good public universities). If you can get in somewhere with good name recognition it may help you get a job later in life based on that. (do your research on what schools are the best for the specific thing you want to study).
