***Meanwhile, those ranked in the bottom five include New Mexico, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Nevada, ***
That is hard to believe. Seventy years ago the UNofficial motto of Arkansas was “Thank Heavens for Mississippi.” as it kept Arkansas off the bottom of everything.
New Mexico back then had great jobs and great schools!
So what has happened in the last 60 years to change all that?
Democrats.
In the early 1960s Arkansas voted Republican by dumping Falbus, and Sam Walton’s new company, (WALMART) flooded part of the state with money which caused a great resurgence in learning in the NW Corner of the state, while the rest of the state is still in poverty. Benton and Washington counties now have GREAT schools!
New Mexico was Caifornicated and the new Dem overlords shut down the money making industries in that State. Mining, oil and gas production. Schools suffered by a loss of their tax base. No wonder they are now at the bottom of the list for education.
“New Mexico was Californicated and the new Dem overlords shut down the money making industries in that State.”
I toured New Mexico in 1982. It was there I saw my first Spanish-language COUNTY road sign. (No sign for English).
If Spanish is spoken in the home, their childrens’ accent is easily detectable.
Their English suffers, which puts pressure downwards on testing.
We need less testing!