Registered: Aug 2000
Location: In a Blue, Blue State
Posts: 13114

2002 SMARTEST STATE AWARD

#1 Ranking is "Smartest"

METHODOLOGY--The Smartest State designation is awarded based on 21 factors chosen from Morgan Quitno’s new annual reference book, Education State Rankings, 2002-2003. These factors reflect a strong commitment to students and teachers, an emphasis on excellence in the classroom and support of safe, well-run public schools (see box below.) To determine the Smartest State rankings, the 21 factors were divided into two groups: those that are “negative” for which a high ranking would be considered bad for a state, and those that are “positive” for which a high ranking would be considered good for a state. Rates for each of the 21 factors were processed through a formula that measures how a state compares to the national average for a given category. The positive and negative nature of each factor was taken into account as part of the formula. Once these computations were made, the factors then were assigned equal weights. These weighted scores then were added together to get a state’s final score (“SUM” on the table above.) This way, states are assessed based on how they stack up against the national average. The end result is that the farther below the national average a state’s education ranking is, the lower (and less smart) it ranks. The farther above the national average, the higher (and smarter) a state ranks.

The ranking was based on such factors as average high school dropout rate, how much teachers earn and how frequently they are attacked, etc. See http://www.morganquitno.com/edfact.htm for all factors involved.

State rankings are here - http://www.morganquitno.com/edrank.htm
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My state, Washington, was rated #35. The "smartest" is Connecticut, and the "dumbest" is New Mexico. Where does yours rate?

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35670

Interesting that 5 of the six New England states are in the top 10, and the sixth, New Hampshire, is 19th (so still highish).

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: baton rouge, la
Posts: 4101

w00t, 49! suck it, new mexico!

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Van Diemen's Land.
Posts: 3607

where is tasmania on that thing?

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Delaware
Posts: 5710

Delaware is #43?! If everyone else is so smart, why do we have all of the credit cards and chemicals, huh?

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Registered: May 2002
Location:
Posts: 8833

These factors are somewhat pertinent, but I don't think they are as influential as the site makes it sound:

quote:

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1. Public Elementary and Secondary School Revenue per $1,000 Personal Income (Table 60) +

2. Per Pupil Public Elementary and Secondary School Current Expenditures (Table 114) +

3. Percent of Public Elementary and Secondary School Current Expenditures used for Instruction (Table 136) +

10. Percent of Public Elementary and Secondary Teachers Who Received Training on How to Teach Students with IEP's (Table 298) +

11. Average Salaries of Public School Classroom Teachers (Table 340) +

12. Average Teacher Salary as a Percent of Average Annual Pay of All Workers (Table 342) +

15. Percent of Public School Teachers Who Stated that Physical Conflicts Among Students Were a Serious Problem in Their Schools (Table 257) -

16. Percent of Public School Teachers Who Reported Being Physically Attacked in the Past 12 Months (Table 260) -

17. Percent of Public School Teachers Who Stated that Routine Duties and Paperwork Interfere with Their Job (Table 357) -

18. Percent of Public Elementary and Secondary School Staff Who are School District Administrators (Table 359) -

19. Estimated Pupil-Teacher Ratio in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools (Table 369) -

20. Average Class Size in Public Elementary Schools (Table 392) -

21. Average Class Size in Public Secondary Schools (Table 394)

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 9343

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35670

Numbers of kids per class is absolutely key, in my experience, to achieving the right environment, given that you aren't allowed to control larger classes with the threat od physical violence anymore. It is the best use of extra money, moreso than paying teachers more (although that is very important too, nearly as important). Small classes and making teaching a desirable job (of which wages is a part) make a big difference and are the main reason that private schools do so much better in the UK (they aren't terribly efficient with their money, but they get amazing results), plus the third key factor which is parental motivation. I am all in favour of legal sanctions against the parents of scumbag kids, too.

EDIT: Dacarlo, read your fucking PMs.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: my mother's bloody womb
Posts: 7148

cost of living can't have a lot to do with it, as west virginia is 18th on the chart, yet we have one of the lowest cost of living rates in the country.

it must be the incest.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Erehwon
Posts: 7538

whatever happened to league tables and shit?

i'd like to see statistics of average salaries of the last 10 years highschool graduates and compare them, as a mark of achievement, or how many went on to get an honours degree.

it is true about the class sizes. A class of 6 is the most condusive to actual learning, however, its obviously not hte most cost or socially effective

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Baba Kueria
Posts: 3146

I can't comment on that state ranking thing, cause I'm not from USA, but I can authoratively say that the state I live in is fucking stupid. The reasoning behind this is twofold. As a kid, I apparently scored highest in the state on some IQ test, then went on to drop out of high school at the age of 15. Therefore, New South Wales is the most stupid state in the history of ever.

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Disgusting den of creepitude
Posts: 10557

I was almost positive that Idaho was the stupid state, but Louisiana and New Mexico are worse......

Haaaaaa Haaaaaaaaa!

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location:
Posts: 16728

I have a hard time believing New Jersey is so far up.

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Registered: Sep 2002
Location: The Bad Side of Mayberry
Posts: 220

So what does it mean if you're like...raised in WI but now reside in MN...does that mean I've become dumber? I swear I'm sold cober!! I'm not as drunk as some thinkle peep. Only tee martoonis. The drunker I stay the longer I get.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 4501

Born and raised in Indiana (#9), but am living in Illinois (#33). How far I have fallen from the steady path of world domination.

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Shreveport, LA
Posts: 3836

and texas rings in at #16! umm, hurray, and stuff.

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