America’s Smartest States: Nevada Is Not One Of Them
How smart do you think Nevadans are? I think we’re pretty smart. However, a recent study ranking the smartest states in the U.S. places us 49th. Ouch!
Here’s How They Determined The Smartest States In The U.S.
Generally, when it comes to book smarts, the residents of “The Silver State” do not rank highly in a new study. The folks at Test-Guide.com looked at IQ scores, ACT and SAT scores, high school graduation rates, and the number of residents who have earned a bachelor’s degree. After taking all that data into consideration, Nevada ranks 49th out of 50 states. The only state we beat was Mississippi.
At any rate, if you break the study down by section, Nevada still ranks pretty low in each category. First, when ranking by IQ scores, our state’s residents rank 46th, with an average score of 96.6. Second, and probably the most disappointing finding, is that Nevada is last in the nation when it comes to ACT and SAT scores. So, how about high school graduation rates? This is Nevada’s highest ranking at 44 with an 86.9% graduation rate. Finally, only 8.2% of Silver State residents have successfully earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, ranking us 45th in the nation.
Let’s See Which States Performed Well In This Intelligence Study
Correspondingly, the study lists some of the top states in the U.S. in these four categories. Overall, the top 3 smartest states are Vermont, Minnesota, and New Hampshire, in that order. Although Vermonters were not number one in a specific category, they did rank in the top 10 in all four sections.
Moreover, the states with residents who have a higher IQ average were New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Minnesota, in that order. All three of these states’ IQ averages around 103, compared to 96.6 in Nevada. However, when looking at ACT and SAT exam scores, three different states rise to the top. Oregon, Virginia, and California are the top 3 in that specific order.
Furthermore, it appears that states with very small populations rank highly for graduation rates. The top 3 states in this category were Montana, Wyoming, and Vermont, in that order. High school graduation rates in these states average between 93.5% to 94%.
Finally, when it comes to residents with bachelor’s degrees or higher, the top three states were New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York. There also happens to be many Ivy League universities in these states.
In conclusion, with Clark County School District going through sickouts and a massive teacher shortage, it does not look like Nevada will be doing much better in these intelligence studies unless things improve.
If you’d like to see the full results of this report, click here.
Back to School Shopping: 14 Must Haves for Under $25
Aesthetic Mechanical Pencil Kit
These pencils are so pretty, and this kit is so convenient. You get the pencils, extra lead, and extra erasers, all in a handy-dandy case.
Pencil Case/Organizer
What a great and stylish way to stay organized. This pencil case/organizer is just what your student needs to have everything they need at the ready for a successful school day!
Notebooks
These colorful spiral-bound notebooks add cool vibes to an otherwise boring school day. Add a little sunshine to your student’s day!
Highlighters
Everyone needs highlighters and these do the trick. The mustaches on them make them fun and fun is fun!!!
Label Maker
While your student might want his or her name on their belongings, they definitely don’t want mom to sew it into their underwear. This label maker is a cool way for your student to label their stuff in a neat and creative way.
Scientific Calculator with Notepad
You remember hitting that age when your parents had to invest in a scientific calculator. This one looks super cool with a large screen and even a notepad option.
Fidget Gel Pen
I bought one of these as a birthday gift for my son’s friend last year. It was such a hit my son got one. Yes, it is distracting. But it is also a creative way to fidget.
Backpack
I have this backpack and I love it. Granted, I’m not in school, but it definitely works great for college, high school, or work. Lots of compartments, room for my laptop and tech. It has a little lock and comes in great colors. PLUS! At the time of posting it is 44% off!
Rocketbook Core Reusable Smart Notebook
If you want to be a little more eco-friendly, this notebook is amazing! Not only does it help with you “endlessly reusable and digitally connected.” You just write on the Rocketbook pages and then use the free Rocketbook App to scan all of your notes into the cloud. Your student can then be all digital!
Please note that items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time we published this list. Have an idea for a fun theme for a gift idea list you’d like us to create? Drop us a line at [email protected].
Larry Martino is the long-time afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.
