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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CASPER, Wyo. — High school athletics in Wyoming could see some drastic changes in the coming years following legislative changes to the state’s education budget, the Wyoming High School Activities Association recently announced in a statement.
According to the WHSAA, Wyoming school districts are facing a projected $3.9 million shortfall in activities funding, forcing officials to consider significant cuts to high school sports and extracurricular programs.
The WHSAA shared details regarding a new “silo” funding model implemented by the Legislature, stating that the recalibrated block grant model reduced funding for student activities and extra-duty responsibilities from $46.3 million to $42.4 million, an approximately 8.4% decrease statewide.
WHSAA Commissioner Trevor Wilson said the restructuring also restricts district access to an additional $76.2 million in previously flexible funding.
“A significant portion of the [April 28 WHSAA Board of Directors] meeting was dedicated to discussing the projected funding shortfall,” Wilson wrote.
The WHSAA is weighing several strategies to address rising costs with fewer resources. Proposed changes include eliminating regional tournaments and reducing the number of teams qualifying for state events from eight to four; limiting wrestling to two classes and restricting track and field state participants to the top 16 marks; making cuts to soccer, indoor track and field, Nordic and Alpine skiing, swimming and diving, spring golf and tennis; and reducing in-person speech and debate events by half and centrally locating All-State Music events to minimize travel. The board also recommended increasing gate admission or implementing student participation fees to offset costs.
While the WHSAA release states that no plans have been finalized and the various changes are currently just possibilities, Natrona County School District 1 Board of Trustees member Mary Schmidt criticized the WHSAA’s handling of the news at Monday’s board meeting.
“I take some issues with this, [including] the sheer fact that we as Board of Trustees members have not talked about that at all,” Schmidt said. “It is not our intent and it has not been brought to us to cut our athletics or activities budget for the upcoming school year. … I take issue with them picking sports and getting the community upset and ginning them up to be upset that this is all going to be cut when that hasn’t been discussed.”
Later in the meeting, Superintendent Angela Hensley clarified that Natrona County School District 1’s athletics and activities budget saw a reduction of roughly $550,000 in the coming year’s budget, but said the local school district does not plan to cut any sports.
“Thank you, Trustee Schmidt, for saying this, because I think people are wondering — we are not planning to cut athletics and activities for next year,” Hensley said. “We do have to take a look at our entire budget as we have talked about, as we learn more about these new rules that come in.”
Related
Republished with permission from Wyoming News Now, a TV news outlet covering the Cheyenne and Casper areas.
Cheyenne City Council has introduced a temporary moratorium, or pause, on new data center construction.
“The end goal is to actually have regulations in place, to have really heavy public involvement with this with data centers,” said Councilman Mark Moody.
The proposed ordinance is not a permanent ban on data centers and would not affect data centers currently under construction.
Councilman Moody says this is a bipartisan issue.
“I just want to make this clear, I’m not against data centers. We do need them from a national security perspective,” he said.
He said there needs to be more public input and regulations regarding data centers in Cheyenne.
The ordinance would require city staff to study data center impacts such as electricity usage, electricity tariffs, closed-loop cooling systems, groundwater impacts, agricultural impacts, and land value.
Cheyenne LEADS, the economic development corporation for Cheyenne and Laramie County, reported in November 2025 that there are 12 operational data centers in Wyoming, five under construction and plans for 43 data centers announced across the state.
“There needs to be more public input with this, and also to see how many we can sustain here in this community, cause there are talks of 43, and then another day 70. How many can we sustain here?” said Councilman Moody.
The proposed moratorium will now go to the Public Services Committee on Monday, May 18 at noon in the Municipal Building.
Sheridan will play in the North Regional Tournament at Gillette, while the South Regional Tournament will be played at Rock Springs.
North Regional Tournament at Gillette:
Checking record vs. highest team in the quadrant not involved in the tie, Thunder Basin gets the #1 Northeast seed over Campbell County, because the Lady Bolts went 3-1 vs. Sheridan, whereas the Lady Camels went 2-2.
Friday, May 15th:
(#1 NE) Thunder Basin vs. (#4 NW) Jackson – 11am
(#2 NW) Natrona County vs. (#3 NE) Sheridan – 11am
(#2 NE) Campbell County vs. (#3 NW) Kelly Walsh – 1pm
(#1 NW) Cody vs. (#4 NE) Worland – 1pm
Semi-Finals:
Thunder Basin/Jackson winner vs. Natrona County/Sheridan winner – 3pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Campbell County/Kelly Walsh winner vs. Cody/Worland winner – 5pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Consolation Round:
Thunder Basin/Jackson loser vs. Natrona County/Sheridan loser – 3pm LOSER OUT!
Campbell County/Kelly Walsh loser vs. Cody/Worland loser – 5pm LOSER OUT!
Saturday, May 16th:
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
2 10am winners vs. each other – 1pm 3rd Place
TBA vs. TBA – 1pm 1st Place
South Regional Tournament at Rock Springs:
Friday, May 15th:
(#1 SW) Laramie vs. (#4 SE) Torrington – 11am
(#2 SE) Cheyenne East vs. (#3 SW) Green River – 11am
(#2 SW) Rock Springs vs. (#3 SE) Wheatland – 1pm
(#1 SE) Cheyenne Central vs. (#4 SW) Cheyenne South – 1pm
Semi-Finals:
Laramie/Torrington winner vs. Cheyenne East/Green River winner – 3pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Rock Springs/Wheatland winner vs. Cheyenne Central/Cheyenne South winner – 5pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Consolation Round:
Laramie/Torrington loser vs. Cheyenne East/Green River loser – 3pm LOSER OUT!
Rock Springs/Wheatland loser vs. Cheyenne Central/Cheyenne South loser – 5pm LOSER OUT!
Saturday, May 16th:
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
2 10am winners vs. each other – 1pm 3rd Place
TBA vs. TBA – 1pm 1st Place
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