Ranking

New kid,

Was not the goal of the research. Goal of the research was to figure out why some states under perform and some states are consistently higher on ACT standardized test scores. When you lay one set of data on top of the other, it's pretty clear. Some states, which score lower "as a state total", have much larger populations of under performing sectors. Lower performing states do not have "stupid" citizens, they are merely more integrated and diverse than other states.

I will caution you to NOT believe lower performing areas have (as the greatest factor) poverty to blame. I'm telling you, it's not the answer but perhaps the politicians premise, therefore, they throw money at the problem. In 40 years, money and numerous programs "to combat poverty", have not changed ACT results in these communities. A "hot button issue" you say? You bet it is. Yet, everyone points to "poverty" as the biggest problem, which leads to public policy dictating MORE money to solve the problem and everyone goes home. Ask yourself this question; If poverty were the single largest contributing factor, then why do Hispanics (many of whom may be learning English as a second language) in the same zip codes score higher? Why do whites in these same zip codes score higher? Why do Asians (who may be learning English as a second language) score higher still?

It's indisputable and AMAZING. Asians, whites, Hispanics and blacks score almost identically, by state, across the country. This was what really surprised me. Like you, I also assumed wealthy states or neighborhoods would perform better. Nope, I was wrong. I propose (as an absolute layman), it's not the money or average household income. A state like a Mississippi ($39K average household income) cannot possibly match an average household income of a Massachusetts (almost $67K according to gov census data, same link as above). With such a large advantage in median income, why don't the test scores improve as a collective average?? Why are scores on ACT tests, by race, almost identical in these two states? It's uncanny. It would lead any reasonable person to look for additional reasons or another primary qualifier, to explain what is so obvious.

Politicians and school officials are mortified to even discuss the issue openly for fear of reprisals. You should see their faces and the ensuing back-pedaling. So, no one touches it and the black community, in particular, suffers year over year. It's lost opportunity that has gone on for two generations. It's sad...and we ALL lose.

Can I solve the problem? I wish I could. I merely find it very interesting because the research led to a place not expected and shattered my presumptions. I wish I had 6 months of spare time to look into the Asian phenomenon on ACT test scores but maybe these are questions best left for an ambitious grad student.
 
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