Interesting that you use Utah for comparison. Utah, the very heavily Mormon state. Mormons, as I understand, are very family and very service oriented. You ask for help with a project, you get it. I think of the Mormon kids who are geared from day one to do their mission, and the clean-cut image of those young adults in their black slacks, white shirts, out representing their church. Hello!
I think of Oregon kids - not the same image.
Good parenting makes better students, IMO.