Learning Less?

I think at times educational classes, maybe even schools, lack what is to be really taught to students. Whether students are learning less, I don't know if I completely, 100% agree with that; however, sometimes I think the teaching goes in the wrong direction. For instance, why is it that the Northeast is such a powerhouse in intelligence as opposed to the Midwest? What are we doing that they are not? I think sometimes it is hard to judge what students are learning/ whether they are leanring more or less in a general sense. Many of the big time tests given in high schools (The Regents Exams in select states, SAT's, etc.) look for very specific information. A student can be highly intelligent in my eyes, yet not do so spectacular on the SAT's. Sometimes tests do not say all.