Wyoming
Most and Least Intelligent States in America: New Hampshire, Minnesota, Wyoming #1-3; Bottom 3 of New Mexico, Texas, Mississippi – OnFocus
Most and Least Intelligent States in America
- New Hampshire has been revealed as the smartest state in America
- Minnesota named runner-up
- Wyoming is the third smartest state in America according to new research
A new study has revealed that New Hampshire is the smartest state in America.
Research by free online education platform Guru99.com analyzed six different metrics: average IQ, graduation rates, percentage of the population with low literacy rates, average SAT scores, % of the states that don’t have a high school diploma or GED and GDP per capita. These were then given a score out of 10 and combined to give a total score of 60.
Top 5
New Hampshire is the most intelligent state in America, data shows that on average the state has the highest IQs across the country with 103.2. The state also has the smallest % of the population with low literacy skills with 11.5%. New Hampshire also has one of the highest GDP per capita with $74,663 and an index score of 56.82
Minnesota ranks as the second smartest state. Only 5.8% of the entire population don’t have a high school diploma or GED and the average SAT score is 1225, which is one of the highest figures in America. On top of that, Minnesota has increased graduation rates of 94.13%. Minnesota was given an index score of 55.82
In third is Wyoming boasting even higher average SAT scores than Minnesota, with 1244. Wyoming also has a high graduation rate of 93.59%, and higher levels of education are generally associated with those who aim to have higher-skilled jobs and, therefore earn more, which may explain why the GDP per capita in Wyoming is one of the highest in America at $71,342. Wyoming was ranked with an index score of 54.98.
Vermont has the lowest percentage of its population that doesn’t have a high school diploma or GED (5.5%), which could contribute to the higher average IQ of 102.2. Vermont also has good literacy levels, with only 12.8% of the population deemed to have low literacy, ranking fourth with an index score of 54.91.
Montana ranks as the fifth smartest state in America with an index score of 54.64. Montana is another high-achieving state for SATs, with an average score of 1206. On top of that only 5.6% of the population don’t have a high school diploma or GED.
Bottom 5
According to the study, New Mexico is the least intelligent state in America. The state has the lowest average IQ (95) and the highest % of the population that has low levels of literacy (29.1%).
Texas also ranks as one of the least intelligent states. Texas has one of the lowest graduation rates with 85.39%. The state also has one of the highest % of the population that doesn’t have a high school diploma or GED (14.6%).
Mississippi is in the bottom three for the least smartest states in America. The average IQ is only just above New Mexico at 95.8. Mississippi much like the two states above also has a high % of the population with low literacy (28%).
West Virginia is fourth on this list. This state has the lowest average SAT scores with 938. Graduation rates are also lower than the national average with only 88.82% of students graduating. 11% of the population also doesn’t have a high school diploma or GED.
Research shows that Louisiana is the fifth least intelligent state with an average IQ of 95.2 this is the second lowest behind New Mexico. Louisiana also has a high % of the population with low literacy (27.1%) and a lower-than-average graduation rate (86.68%).
Ranking of the top 15 smartest states in America:
| Ranking | State | Index Score |
| 1. | New Hampshire | 56.82 |
| 2. | Minnesota | 55.82 |
| 3. | Wyoming | 54.98 |
| 4. | Vermont | 54.91 |
| 5. | Montana | 54.64 |
| 6. | North Dakota | 54.38 |
| 7. | Maine | 53.83 |
| 8. | South Dakota | 52.61 |
| 9. | Wisconsin | 52.45 |
| 10. | Utah | 52.21 |
| 11 | Iowa | 52.04 |
| 12. | Massachusetts | 51.83 |
| 13. | Washington | 51.39 |
| 14. | Nebraska | 50.67 |
| 15. | Colorado | 50.56 |
Ranking of the bottom 15 states:
| Ranking | State | Index Score |
| 1. | New Mexico | 40.52 |
| 2. | Texas | 41.46 |
| 3. | Mississippi | 41.67 |
| 4. | West Virginia | 42.40 |
| 5. | Louisiana | 42.40 |
| 6. | Alabama | 42.96 |
| 7. | Oklahoma | 43.40 |
| 8. | South Carolina | 43.73 |
| 9. | California | 43.80 |
| 10. | Georgia | 43.83 |
| 11 | Arkansas | 44.09 |
| 12. | Kentucky | 44.40 |
| 13. | Florida | 44.50 |
| 14. | Arizona | 44.62 |
| 15. | Rhode Island | 45.04 |
Krishna Rungta, Founder & CEO of Guru99.com commented:
“Education in the United States is the cornerstone of individual empowerment and societal progress. It is a dynamic force that not only imparts knowledge but shapes character, cultivates critical thinking, and ignites the flames of curiosity.
“America is home to many of the greatest educational institutions across the globe; as one of the world’s largest economies and powerhouses in industry and innovation, it’s pivotal that every generation continues to learn and develop, to progress the foundations that have already been built in the country.
“Smartness is easy to quantify, however, this does not attest to the spectrum of talents and skills that every person is capable of learning across a broad range of topics. Even after college, the internet has opened up a vast array of opportunities for growth and development that could progress careers further, or enable people to learn new skills and discover new passions.”
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The top boys’ basketball players in Wyoming for Classes 1A and 2A were chosen for the 2026 high school season. The Wyoming Coaches Association has unveiled the all-state awards for this year, as voted on by the head coaches in the two classifications, respectively. The Wyoming Coaches Association only recognizes one team for all-state, and only these players receive an award certificate from the WCA. WyoPreps only lists all-state players as defined by the WCA.
WCA 1A-2A BOYS BASKETBALL ALL-STATE SELECTIONS IN 2026
Each class selected 14 players for all-state, reflecting a broad recognition of talent across Wyoming. Notably, congratulations go to Hulett’s Kyle Smith, Brady Cook from Lingle-Fort Laramie, and Carsten Freeburg from Pine Bluffs, who earned all-state honors for the third straight year. In addition, eight more players achieved all-state status for the second time in their prep careers.
Class 1A
Paul McNiven – Burlington
Bitner Philpott – Burlington
Ammon Hatch – Cokeville (All-State in 2025)
Hudson Himmerich – Cokeville
Kyle Smith – Hulett (All-State 2024 & 2025)
Anthony Arnusch – Lingle-Ft. Laramie
Brady Cook – Lingle-Ft. Laramie (All-State 2024 & 2025)
Tymber Cozzens – Little Snake River (All-State in 2025)
Corbin Matthews – Lusk
Max Potas – Meeteetse (All-State in 2024)
Jace Westring – Saratoga
Hazen Williams – Saratoga
TJ Moats – Southeast (All-State in 2024)
Nic Schiller – Upton
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Class 2A
Caleb Adsit – Big Horn
Chase Garber – Big Horn
Carsten Freeburg – Pine Bluffs (All-State 2024 & 2025)
Mason Moss – Rocky Mountain
Oakley Hicks – Shoshoni
Kade Mills – Sundance
Cody Bomengen – Thermopolis (All-State in 2025)
Zak Hastie – Thermopolis
Ellis Webber – Thermopolis (All-State in 2025)
Joseph Kimbrell – Wright
Mitchell Strohschein – Wright (All-State in 2025)
Adriano Brown – Wyoming Indian
Heeyei’Niitou Monroe-Black – Wyoming Indian (All-State in 2025)
Cordell Spoonhunter – Wyoming Indian
The 2026 state champions were the Saratoga Panthers in Class 1A. They beat Lingle-Fort Laramie, 50-45, in the championship game. The 2A winners were the Thermopolis Bobcats, who repeated as champions, after a 45-38 victory over Wyoming Indian in the title game.
Lusk versus Rock River high school basketball 2026
Game action between the Tigers and Longhorns
Gallery Credit: Courtesy: Lisa Shaw
A pair of bills signed into law last week aim to build out a more comprehensive system of literacy education across Wyoming’s public schools.
One mandates evidence-based practices and requires regular screenings for dyslexia, while the other enables the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) to hire a dedicated literacy professional to oversee statewide compliance.
Gov. Mark Gordon’s signing of both bills on Friday was the latest accomplishment of an ongoing push for improved literacy standards. That push has been spearheaded by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder.
“Wyoming is not going to let a single child fall through the cracks,” Degenfelder said during a public bill signing last week. “We are not going to fall behind when it comes to ensuring that our children can read at grade level.”
The primary bill, Senate File 59, establishes a statewide K-12 program for teaching students to read that is built on “evidence based language and literacy instruction, assessment, intervention and professional development that supports educators, engages families and promotes literacy proficiency for all Wyoming students.”
The bill defines evidence-based strategies as those that conform to the science of reading, a term that will be defined and updated by Degenfelder’s office. Nationwide, it generally means putting academic research into practice in classrooms. SF 59 specifically prohibits the exclusive use of “three-cueing” — a strategy once widely employed to teach reading but which education experts now say is outdated and less effective than other strategies.
It also requires annual dyslexia screeners for students below the third grade, and testing for reading difficulties for all students.
The screeners are used to identify the severity of reading difficulties in order to direct “tiered” support that offers the most intensive interventions to the students most in need, while still providing “evidence based” language instruction to all students.
Each school district must formulate an individualized reading plan “for each student identified as having reading difficulties or at risk for poor reading outcomes.”
Districts must now report to the state annually regarding their literacy-related work. Any district where 60% or more of the students are struggling will be required to implement “summer literacy camps or extended supports, including after school support and tutoring.”
The bill also requires literacy related professional development for teachers and specialists “appropriate to their role and level of responsibility” related to literacy education.
SF 59 was backed by dyslexia advocates and literacy specialists.
Senate File 14, the other literacy bill signed into law Friday, appropriates $120,000 annually for the next two years for a full-time position at WDE “to assist school districts in implementing a reading assessment and intervention program and language and literacy programs.”
Both bills go into effect July 1.
LARAMIE — The University of Wyoming and the Mountain West Conference announced the Cowboys’ 2026 football schedule Monday, a slate that opens with the Border War and concludes with back-to-back home games in Laramie.
Wyoming opens the season Sept. 5 on the road against Colorado State in the 118th edition of the Border War. The Cowboys then host Northern Colorado on Sept. 12 in the home opener before traveling to Central Michigan on Sept. 19.
The Cowboys begin Mountain West play Sept. 26 at home against Hawaii in a matchup for the Paniolo Trophy. Wyoming then faces back-to-back road games at North Dakota State on Oct. 3 and San Jose State on Oct. 10.
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Wyoming returns to War Memorial Stadium on Oct. 17 to host conference newcomer Northern Illinois before facing Air Force at home on Oct. 24. The Cowboys will have an open week on Oct. 31.
The Cowboys open November with road games at UNLV on Nov. 7 and at UTEP on Nov. 14, marking Wyoming’s first meeting with the Miners as members of the Mountain West. Wyoming closes conference play by hosting New Mexico on Nov. 21 and wraps up the regular season with a nonconference game against UConn on Nov. 28 in Laramie.
Each Mountain West team will play four home and four road conference games during the 13-week season, which will conclude with the Mountain West Football Championship Game featuring the two teams with the highest conference winning percentages. The championship game date will be announced later.
With the conference schedule set, Mountain West television partners CBS Sports, FOX Sports, and The CW will begin selecting broadcast games, which could include moving some contests to non-Saturday dates. Network assignments and kickoff times will be announced at a later date.
Season ticket renewals for the 2026 Wyoming football season are now available. Fans can renew their tickets online by visiting gowyo.com/tickets and logging into their account.
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