Educational Attainment
Is the population sufficiently educated to drive economic growth?
Educational Attainment represents the level of educational achievement among adult residents. Diversity in educational attainment is essential to driving a strong economy and providing an ample amount of employees for each division of labor, from non-professional to highly specialized.
A lack of higher education graduates in an area may be due to reduced access to affordable, local education or problems with retaining talent after they graduate. This metric provides data to craft policy promoting education and continued residence in a city post-graduation.
A increase in Educational Attainment represents an upward trend for the state of Education because it indicates that residents are taking advantage of available educational opportunities, which can lead to improved employability and economic growth.
Primary Indicator
Percentage of city residents with a high school degree or more
Data were obtained from the American Community Survey Subject Table S1501, variable S1501_C02_014E. Educational attainment is calculated as the percentage of the population over 25 years old with a high school diploma or higher in a city.
Additional Indicators
Percentage of city residents by highest level of educational attainment
Data were obtained from the American Community Survey Subject Table S1501. Educational attainment is calculated as the percentage of the population over 25 years old with a high school diploma or higher in a city by group. The variables used for this series are:
- Primary school: S1501_C02_007E
- Some high school: S1501_C02_008E
- High school graduate: S1501_C02_009E
- Some college education: S1501_C02_010E
- Associate's degree: S1501_C02_011E
- Bachelor's degree: S1501_C02_012E
- Graduate degree: S1501_C02_013E
Percentage of city residents with a high school degree or more by race and ethnicity
Data were obtained from the American Community Survey Subject Table S1501. Educational attainment is calculated as the percentage of the population over 25 years old with a high school diploma or higher in a city by group. The variables used for this series are:
- White, Not Hispanic: S1501_C02_032E
- Hispanic or Latino: S1501_C02_053E
The estimate for the “Not White, Not Hispanic or Latino” group was derived internally by subtracting the estimates for Hispanic or Latino and White, Not Hispanic or Latino from the citywide value estimate, then dividing it by the total population in the city minus the total population for each race and ethnicity group. This estimate was calculated for cities with available estimates for Hispanic or Latino and for White, Not Hispanic or Latino.
Percentage of city residents with a high school degree or more by race
Data were obtained from the American Community Survey Subject Table S1501. Educational attainment is calculated as the percentage of the population over 25 years old with a high school diploma or higher in a city by group. The variables used for this series are:
- White alone: S1501_C02_029E
- Black alone: S1501_C02_035E
- American Indian or Alaska Native alone: S1501_C02_038E
- Asian alone: S1501_C02_041E
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: S1501_C02_044E
- Some other race alone: S1501_C02_047E
- Two or more races: S1501_C02_050E
Percentage of city residents with a high school degree or more by sex
Data were obtained from the American Community Survey Subject Table S1501. Educational attainment is calculated as the percentage of the population over 25 years old with a high school diploma or higher in a city by group. The variables used for this series are:
- Female: S1501_C06_014E
- Male: S1501_C04_014E