The Smartest State Award is based on 21 factors from Education State Rankings, an annual reference book that compares the 50 United States in hundreds of elementary and secondary education categories. The revised, fourth edition of Education State Rankings will be published early next week. Featuring four new factors, the 2005 award measures states based on student achievement and attendance, positive outcomes, strong student-teacher relationships and school district efficiency. As a result, rankings for this year’s Smartest State Award are not directly comparable to last year’s rankings.

"The Smartest State Award recognizes those states that are committed to students and teachers, emphasize excellence in the classroom and ensure that public elementary and secondary schools are efficiently-run,” said Scott Morgan, President of Morgan Quitno Press.

“Vermont shines in many key areas of education,” said Morgan. “A high percentage of its students excel in reading, writing and math. In addition, schools in Vermont have smaller class sizes and lower pupil-teacher ratios than in most other states.”

Rounding out the top five states with Vermont were Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Maine. Bringing up the lower end of the rankings scale were Arizona in last place, Mississippi in 49th, New Mexico in 48th, Nevada in 47th and California in 46th.

The Smartest State Award is one of six designations announced annually by Morgan Quitno Press. The company's other annual announcements designate the nation’s Safest and Most Dangerous City and Metro Area, the Most Livable State, the Healthiest State, the Safest and Most Dangerous States and Most Improved State. Each award or designation is based on data from annual Morgan Quitno reference publications.

Morgan Quitno Press is an independent private research and publishing company located in Lawrence, Kansas. Founded in 1989, the company specializes in reference books and monthly reports that compare states and cities in several different subject areas. The corporation is not a subsidiary of any other company nor is it subsidized by any outside interest group. Its books are found in reference libraries throughout the United States and around the world.

Additional information about the fourth annual Smartest State Award, including rankings for all 50 states, a list of factors used to determine the results and an explanation of methodology, is available directly from Morgan Quitno Press at www.statestats.com or by calling (785) 841-3534.

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