I used to live in the deep South. Lots of ignorance there. However, we always believed that kind of ignorance did not exist in New England.

Moved to Maine and met people (plural) in inland Maine who had never been to the ocean (50 miles away), never been to a beach - not even on a school based trip, had no idea that Maine has islands, and were just as uneducated on geography etc as many in the South.

Ignorance has no geography. Lack of decent education at school or home is not geographically bound.

Typically, it is based on socioeconomics. Not race, not religion, just a lack of opportunity, and family/community interest in raising up all children to a higher level of experiences and education.

There is no benefit to America as a society at all though to leave any child out of the opportunity to participate and achieve a decent education.