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title: Wyoming K-12 Achieving Excellence? - Wyoming Liberty Group - Wyoming Liberty Group
description: Wyoming legislators claim cuts mean settling for mediocrity; WyLib data shows high spending has not produced student outcomes matching the level of investment.
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\[!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-lg-trees.png)!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-sm-trees.png)\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/) \[\](#)- \[Home\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/) - \[About\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Who We Are\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[Core Principles\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[Staff &amp; Board\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[Current Posts\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/current-posts) - \[Topics\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[Economic\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[Education\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[Election Security Standards\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[Energy and Resources\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[Eye on the Issues\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[Government Programs\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[Health Care\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[Legal\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[Limited Government\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[Marijuana/THC\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[Political\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[Property Rights\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[Regulation\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[Timeless Topics\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[Transparency\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - \[Get Involved\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Donation/Membership\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[Contact \](https://mail.wyliberty.org/contact) - \[Search\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/search) ## Learn About ### Education <a></a> Font size: \[ &amp;plus; \](https://mail.wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ – \](https://mail.wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ Print \](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/education/wyoming-k-12-achieving-excellence?tmpl=component&amp;print=1&amp;format=print "Print") # Wyoming K-12 Achieving Excellence? \[Education\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/education) Friday, 15 September 2017 A number of our legislators claim we cannot cut education spending because we don't want to settle for mediocrity. Please see the graph below of 2016 ACT® results for states where 100 percent of 11th graders take the test (100% ACT states). From it, a disinterested observer could easily conclude that mediocrity is precisely what Wyoming has achieved. Our kids ranked 10th out of 18 states: dead middle of the pack with an average composite score of 20.0. The best state, Minnesota, scored 21.1 while the worst state, Nevada, notched a 17.7. Wyoming was beaten by all of its neighbors in the group: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota and Utah. You can view these figures on ACT's website at \[http://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/CCCR\\\_National\\\_2016.pdf\](http://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/CCCR\_National\_2016.pdf). <a> !\[\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/images/easyblog\_articles/1017/b2ap3\_large\_2016\_ACT\_Results\_1.jpg) </a>That is bad enough, but there's more! Spending figures released recently by the Census Bureau show in 2016 Wyoming spent more, \*far more\*, in total per student than any of the other 100% ACT states. See the graph below. The data are available at \[https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=SSF\\\_2015\\\_00A08&amp;prodType=table\](https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=SSF\_2015\_00A08&amp;prodType=table). This is well known and is simply a continuation of the long trend of Wyoming's spending splurge. Note the margin by which Wyoming outspends all of the 100% ACT states. We even spend more per student than does the corrupt, heavily unionized state of Illinois. Keep in mind the figures have not been adjusted for relative cost of living. If they were, Wyoming would look even worse. What's more interesting is to take the annual amount spent per pupil and divide it by the average composite ACT score. Wyoming does excel - in how little it achieves in ACT scores in return for K-12 spending. <a> !\[\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/images/easyblog\_articles/1017/b2ap3\_large\_2016\_ACT\_Results\_States\_11th\_Grade.jpg) </a>Wyoming 11th graders aren't any worse than those in other states, are they? If not, it's our system which, in spite of its shocking cost, isn't getting results. School administrators and other education specialists assured us at the recent "education practitioner" meetings held around Wyoming they excel in educating the "whole child", whatever that means. We think their statement strains belief because they cannot get kids to excel even in narrowly focused, clearly defined subjects against well-known benchmarks. Seriously, folks, more spending is not the answer. Enacting more taxes so we can continue wasteful spending would not only be dangerous, it would be foolish. Contact your legislators now and demand accountability and change. Go to the Legislative Service Office's site at  and enter your comments. \[ \](https://mail.wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://mail.wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://mail.wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) Tags: \[WyLiberty\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog-tags/wyliberty) \[Wyoming Education\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog-tags/wyoming-education) \[K-12\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog-tags/k-12) \[K-12 Education\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog-tags/k-12-education) \[ACT\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog-tags/act) \[ Wyoming PAWS – Teaching to the Test Part I \](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/education/wyoming-paws-teaching-to-the-test-part-i) \[ Wyoming K-12: What Will It Take? \](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/education/wyoming-k-12-what-will-it-take) #### Related Posts ### \[Gore: Keep our ballots safe\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs/gore-keep-our-ballots-safe) \[Government Programs\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) ### \[Is Wyoming on the Path to its First Income Tax?\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs/is-wyoming-on-the-path-to-its-first-income-tax) \[Government Programs\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) ### \[Education Choice: The Ideological Architecture\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/economic/education-choice-the-ideological-architecture) \[Economic\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/economic) ### \[Weekly Economic Report: Personal Income and Consumer Spending, Part 1\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs/weekly-economic-report-personal-income-and-consumer-spending-part-1) \[Government Programs\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) ### \[Who Pays for a Fuel Tax Increase in Wyoming?\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs/who-pays-for-a-fuel-tax-increase-in-wyoming) \[Government Programs\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) ### \[Public Record Law Exceptions Die in Judiciary Committee\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs/public-record-law-exceptions-die-in-judiciary-committee) \[Government Programs\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) !\[logo white 002\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/images/general\_art/logo\_white\_002.png) \*\*Wyoming Liberty Group\*\* P.O. Box 9 • Burns, WY 82053 Phone: (307) 632-7020 ##### Quick Links - \[ Legal\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/legal-center) - \[ News Releases\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/news-releases) - \[ Podcasts\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/podcasts) - \[ Policy\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/policy) - \[ Videos\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/videos) ##### Support - \[ Blog Tags\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog-tags) - \[ Contact Us\](https://white-clair-78.tiiny.site/) - \[ Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[ Privacy Policy\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/privacy-policy) - \[ Login/out\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/login-out) Search Copyright © 2026 Wyoming Liberty Group. \[\](#)- \[ Home\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/) - <a>About</a> - \[ Who We Are\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[ Core Principles\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[ Staff &amp; Board\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[ Current Posts\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/current-posts) - <a>Topics</a> - \[ Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[ Economic\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[ Education\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[ Election Security Standards\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[ Energy and Resources\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[ Eye on the Issues\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[ Government Programs\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[ Health Care\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[ Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[ Legal\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[ Limited Government\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[ Marijuana/THC\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[ Political\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[ Property Rights\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[ Regulation\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[ Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[ Timeless Topics\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[ Transparency\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - <a>Get Involved</a> - \[ Donation/Membership\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[ Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[ Contact \](https://mail.wyliberty.org/contact) - \[ Search\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/search) \[\](https://mail.wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0))