Dumbest States

Assessing a state's intelligence is an intricate task considering the numerous factors that contribute to education and smartness. While some states demonstrate a high level of intelligence due to favorable circumstances, others significantly lag behind due to various underlying issues. A significant role is attributed to the state's GDP, the access to quality education, family income, educational standards, and even societal attitudes towards learning. By taking a closer look at the data collected by 'Penn Stakes', we assess each state based on IQ scores, SAT scores, ACT scores, and the percentage of college graduates, crucial factors that provide a snapshot of the intelligence levels.

• Higher-income states, such as Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, are at the top of the list, demonstrating high levels of intelligence.
• States like Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas that have higher proportions of lower-income families rank lower on our list, alluding to the impact of income on educational outcomes.
• The states that rank near the bottom, including West Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana, are generally located in the South, suggesting potential regional disparities in educational policy and resources. Conversely, most North-Eastern states display significantly higher scores, hinting at more robust educational practices in those areas.

Falling at bottom place is West Virginia with an intelligence index of 12.6, followed by Mississippi at 13.3. Louisiana, with an intelligence index of 15.2, takes the third rank from the bottom. Arkansas and Nevada follow suit, with indexes being 19.1 and 20.0, respectively. The southwestern state of New Mexico ranks sixth from the bottom, with an index of 20.4. Alabama and Oklahoma have comparable indexes at 22.4. Texas, with its large and diverse population, has an index of 23.9. Finally, South Carolina lands a spot in the ten 'dumbest' states with an index of 28.0. 10 Dumbest States:

1. West Virginia - 12.6
2. Mississippi - 13.3
3. Louisiana - 15.2
4. Arkansas - 19.1
5. Nevada - 20.0
6. New Mexico - 20.4
7. Alabama - 22.4
8. Oklahoma - 22.4
9. Texas - 23.9
10. South Carolina - 28.0