Fact Check: Are the least educated populations in red or blue

Fact Check: "Are the least educated populations in red or blue states?"

What We Know

The claim regarding educational attainment in red and blue states is supported by various data sources. According to a report analyzing the impact of COVID-19 on student learning, states that leaned Democratic (blue states) experienced a steeper decline in student performance compared to Republican-leaning (red) states. This report utilized data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and found that, while blue states had higher average scores pre-pandemic, they fell significantly behind red states by 2024.

Additionally, a Wikipedia entry outlines the educational attainment levels across U.S. states, indicating that states like West Virginia and Mississippi, which are predominantly red, rank among the least educated in terms of high school graduation rates and higher education attainment. A more detailed analysis from World Population Review shows that West Virginia is the least educated state, followed by Mississippi and Louisiana, all of which are red states (source-3).

Conversely, states that voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 election tend to have higher educational attainment levels. A report from Hartmann Report suggests that citizens in red states are generally poorer and less educated than those in blue states. This is further supported by data from WalletHub, which indicates that the most educated states overwhelmingly supported Biden, while the least educated states largely supported Trump (source-5).

Analysis

The evidence indicates a complex relationship between political affiliation and educational attainment. The findings from the NAEP data suggest that while blue states had higher educational scores before the pandemic, they experienced greater learning loss during it, leading to a reversal in rankings by 2024 (source-1). This could imply that educational policies and responses to the pandemic, which were often politically motivated, significantly impacted learning outcomes.

However, the educational attainment data also shows that many of the least educated states are red states, with West Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana consistently ranking low (source-3). This suggests that while educational performance can fluctuate due to external factors like the pandemic, the foundational educational attainment levels in these states have historically been low.

The reliability of the sources varies. The NAEP data is a reputable source for educational statistics, while the Wikipedia entry provides a broad overview but lacks the depth of analysis found in dedicated educational reports. The Hartmann Report and WalletHub analyses are also credible but may carry some bias due to their political implications and focus on educational policy (source-4, source-5).

Conclusion

The claim that the least educated populations are found in red states is Partially True. While it is accurate that many of the states with the lowest educational attainment are red states, the recent data on learning loss during the pandemic indicates a significant decline in educational performance in blue states as well. This suggests that educational outcomes are influenced by a variety of factors, including political decisions and external crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources

1. Red States Have Seen Less Learning Loss
2. List of U.S. states and territories by educational attainment
3. Least Educated States 2025
4. Why are Red State Citizens Poorer, Less Educated, & ...
5. Where Do Red States Rank In Education (2025)
6. Most & Least Educated States in America in 2025
7. The Most & Least Educated States In America
8. The Most and Least Educated States in America, Ranked