West and Southwest Lag Nation
in Educational Attainment

Educational attainment is one of our leading indicators of area economic competitiveness. According to a recent study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the West and Southwest are lagging the nation in their key educational attainment measures.

The report finds that "the average education of the adult population increased in every state and the District of Columbia. Some states improved much more than others. Gains in average educational attainment were systematically lower in the West and Southwest. In particular, Alaska, California and Nevada posted less than half the national gain. California, which ranked 14th in the nation in terms of average educational attainment in 1990, slipped to 29th by 2000. Texas dropped seven places to 42nd."

What are the possible explanations for this lag? Here are two:

1. States with high dropout rates probably experienced more growth in the dropout population. With the exception of Utah, the dropout rate was above the national median for all states where the dropout population grew.

2. Proximity to Mexico is also a likely explanation for the growth in adults without a diploma. According to the 2000 census, two-thirds of adults living in the United States who were born in Mexico had less than a high school diploma. Therefore, states with a growing population of Mexican immigrants would also tend to have had a growing number of adults without a high school diploma.

Educational attainment is a challenge in all states and communities, even those that are leading the pack right now.