Have you read the "factors" used in making this determination? Many of these factors would appear to be questionable at best and some are assinine. Many people seem content to regurgitate this next to useless type of trivia and illogical studies which only serve to prove that their authors are either that dumb, that disingenuous or both. And then the trend does continue....
1. Public Elementary and Secondary School Revenue per $1,000 Personal Income (Table 54) +
This may tell you which states have higher taxes but doesn't indicate intelligence unless you're arguing that taxing yourself more = higher intelligence.
2. Per Pupil Public Elementary and Secondary School Current Expenditures (Table 108) +
This tells you which state spends more but still doesn't quantify which state has a higher intelligence.
3. Percent of Public Elementary and Secondary School Current Expenditures used for Instruction (Table 132) +
This might indicate which school administrators are more efficient but still doesn't quantify a state's intelligence.
4. Percent of Population Graduated from High School (Table 168) +
while it's admirable to have all or almost all residents graduate from high school, this figure doesn't calculate how many people who graduate are still illiterate or were basically just pushed through the system without being truly educated. A better test would be what percentage of HS grads are reading, writing and conmprehending at a 12th grade level or higher.
5. Public High School Graduation Rate (Table 177) +
See # 4.
6. Percent of Public School Fourth Graders Proficient or Better in Reading (Table 196) +
This is interesting but what about the other grades. Also, how many people are being held back and thus not learning at a timely rate?
7. Percent of Public School Eighth Graders Proficient or Better in Reading (Table 204) +
Same as # 6.
8. Percent of Public School Fourth Graders Proficient or Better in Writing (Table 212) +
See # 6.
9. Percent of Public School Eighth Graders Proficient or Better in Writing (Table 220) +
See # 6.
10. Percent of Public School Fourth Graders Proficient or Better in Mathematics (Table 228) +
See # 6.
11. Percent of Public School Eighth Graders Proficient or Better in Mathematics (Table 236) +
See # 6.
12. Percent of 4th Graders Whose Parents Have Strict Rules about Getting Homework Done (Table 285) +
See # 6.
13. Average Teacher Salary as a Percent of Average Annual Pay of All Workers (Table 347) +
How does this make a state smarter or dumber?
14. Percent of School-Age Population in Public Schools (Table 412) +
What about private schools and home schooling? Do more of these students make a state smarter? Statistically, they do score higher.
15. High School Drop Out Rate (Table 183) -
What about the other grades? Does this only apply to public high schools? Or to private, parochial and home schooled students as well?
16. Percent of Public School Teachers Who Reported Being Physically Attacked in the Past 12 Months (Table 264) -
Having a high crime rate doesn't mean you're smarter or dumber. Not doing anything about a high crime rate, however, does indicate a lower intelligence level or a lack of scones.
17. Special Education Pupil-Teacher Ratio (Table 325) -
Some states have more money to spend and other states have less. I'd think it's more important and a better criteria for judging to examine how you use your money and resources and what results you obtain than in how much money you spend or by its' derivative, what the pupil-teacher ratio is.
18. Percent of Public Elementary and Secondary School Staff Who are School District Administrators (Table 359) -
Sounds like an administrator efficiency thing and nothing to do with how smart a state is or is not.
19. Estimated Pupil-Teacher Ratio in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools (Table 370) -
See # 17 & 18.
20. Average Class Size in Public Elementary Schools (Table 390) -
See # 18 & 19.
21. Average Class Size in Public Secondary Schools (Table 391) -
See # 18 & 19.
Blue States SMARTER than Red States!
