Forbes Magazine is out with a ranking of the nation’s public schools, and my home state of Wyoming comes in 12th (scroll down), which isn’t bad. You might find interesting their thumbnail about the state.
Wyoming’s economy is different from most states with mineral extraction and tourism comprising major industry sectors. The federal government owns roughly half of the state’s landmass. Top tourist attractions include Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Independence Rock.
Yellowstone opened as the world’s first national park and attracted 4.1 million visitors in 2017, down 3% from the previous year when it set a record. The Tax Foundation ranks Wyoming first in its analysis of state tax costs on business. Wyoming is the least populous state in the U.S.
The WY schools’ quality ranking is 8th (out of 51) but their safety ranking is only 37th. We don’t do a lot of “nanny state” stuff in Wyoming.
Gun ownership is nearly universal and hunting is a major preoccupation for many. Nearly every summer I see one or more individuals doing “open carry” with a holstered handgun on hip. Motorcyclists do or don’t wear helmets, it’s up to the rider.
We take seriously the motto: “the way America used to be” and none of the local schools has so much as a fence around it. In Wyoming you could probably ignore Instapundit’s warning that sending your kids to public school has become parental malpractice.
