Norfolk - Taxpayers like to complain about the high cost of education, but a study by Forbes Magazine finds that schools in Norfolk County are getting an excellent bang for the buck.

The magazine took a look at 97 counties across the country, and rated Norfolk County as fourth best in the nation for high achievement and low costs.

The ratings took into account scores on the SAT college admission tests, graduation rates, percentage of students taking the test and per pupil costs.

Schools in Norfolk County were found to spend $8,897 per student, have an average combined SAT score of 1,090, and a graduation rate of 89.2 percent.

Local school systems in Norfolk County include Foxboro, King Philip Regional, Plainville, Wrentham and Norfolk. Only Marin County, Calif., Collins County, Texas, and Hamilton County, Ind., ranked higher.

No other Massachusetts counties were included in the study.

The 97 counties reviewed by Forbes were selected because of their high property taxes and for relying on property taxes for half or more of the school budget.

Bringing up the rear in the study was Alexandria, Va., which spends $11,404 per student and has combined SAT scores of 963.