Wyoming Schools

    Although Wyoming has the fewest number of students enrolled in K-12 education in the country, the state as a whole was ranked 17 out of 50 in the "Smartest State" rankings based on information from Morgan Quinto's "Education State Rankings 2005-06". Quinto's ratings are based on 21 factors including student achievement, positive outcomes, and personal attention by teachers. The small class size also helps boost Wyoming’s rankings. The average class size in Wyoming is 13.1 students per teacher, assuring more one on one attention by the teachers.

Despite low class size, Wyoming schools are not doing well in terms of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. In the 2006 testing, 53 schools and districts did not make the required Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) benchmarks, many not for the first time. Fourteen schools and districts have appealed their ranking to the state board. Of the 53 schools and districts, many are already under sanctions. For six schools, 2006 is the fourth year in a row that they have not made their AYP, and therefore will be in danger of restructuring. Many other schools are in their second or third year in a row of not meeting standards.

In the 2007 fiscal year, these schools will split over $103 million in federal funding to help implement reforms dictated by NCLB. The state as a whole will receive $280.1 million (85% more than when George W. Bush took office) in federal funding. In addition to paying for NCLB reforms, the federal funds also pay for Pell grants, federal student loans, and other academic programs. Visit Wyoming’s Department of Education website http://www.k12.wy.us/.