Map reveals states with the most high school dropouts

Percentage of High School Graduates or Higher by State

1. Vermont, 95 percent
2. Maine, 94.6 percent
3. New Hampshire, 94.5 percent
4. Montana, 94 percent
5. Minnesota, 94 percent
6. North Dakota, 93.9 percent
7. Wyoming, 93.7 percent
8. District of Columbia, 93.7 percent
9. Wisconsin, 93.5 percent
10. Iowa, 93.5 percent
11. Alaska, 93.3 percent
12. South Dakota, 93.2 percent
13. Utah, 93 percent
14. Colorado, 93 percent
15. Hawaii, 92.9 percent
16. Nebraska, 92.8 percent
17. Pennsylvania, 92.2 percent
18. Washington, 92.2 percent
19. Kansas, 92.1 percent
20. Delaware, 92 percent
21. Idaho, 92 percent
22. Michigan, 91.8 percent
23. Ohio, 91.8 percent
24. Oregon, 91.6 percent
25. Missouri, 91.6 percent
26. Virginia, 91.5 percent
27. Connecticut, 91.5 percent
28. Maryland, 91.4 percent
29. Massachusetts, 91.3 percent
30. New Jersey, 90.7 percent
31. South Carolina, 90.5 percent
32. Rhode Island, 90.5 percent
33. Illinois, 90.4 percent
34. Tennessee, 90.4 percent
35. Indiana, 90.2 percent
36. North Carolina, 90.2 percent
37. Florida, 89.9 percent
38. Oklahoma, 89.6 percent
39. Georgia, 89.5 percent
40. Arizona, 89.2 percent
41. Arkansas, 89.17 percent
42. West Virginia, 89.1 percent
43. Kentucky, 89 percent
44. Alabama, 88.8 percent
45. New Mexico, 88 percent
46. New York, 87.9 percent
47. Mississippi, 87.6 percent
48. Nevada, 87.4 percent
49. Louisiana, 87.3 percent
50. Texas, 86.1 percent
51. California, 84.7 percent

Article

Introduction

California, Texas, and New York are among the states with the highest percentage of high school dropouts, according to data from the United States Census Bureau.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The issue of high school dropouts is directly related to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Data Analysis

The U.S. Census Bureau data shows that in 2022, California, the country’s most populous state, had the lowest percentage of residents aged 25 and over whose education level was high school graduate or higher, with 84.7 percent. California was followed by Texas, with 86.1 percent, and Louisiana with 87.3 percent. Other states in the bottom 10 of the list include Nevada, Mississippi, New York, New Mexico, Alabama, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

On the other hand, the state that had the most residents aged 25 and over who had high school diplomas was Vermont, with 95 percent. That was followed by Maine, with 94.6 percent, and New Hampshire, with 94.5 percent. Montana and Minnesota were also in the top five, both with 94 percent.

Research Findings

Separate research conducted by personal finance website WalletHub found that Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maryland were the most educated states in the country, while West Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana were among the least educated.

This research compared the states across 18 key indicators, including educational attainment—the share of adults with a high school diploma or college education.

According to WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe, some states such as Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia consistently perform poorly when it comes to educational attainment. The reasons for this include various factors such as lower percentages of adults with high school diplomas, limited college experience or degrees, and lower quality of education metrics.

Happe further explained that these states also often struggle with lower graduation rates, have fewer enrolled students in top universities per capita, and lower scores on metrics like math and reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Conclusion

The issue of high school dropouts is a significant challenge in many states across the United States. It not only affects the educational attainment of individuals but also has implications for economic growth, inequality, and overall societal development. Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach that focuses on improving the quality of education, reducing inequalities, and providing opportunities for decent work and economic growth.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
   • Indicator: Percentage of high school graduates or higher by state.

The article discusses the issue of high school dropouts in the United States, specifically in states like California, Texas, and New York. This issue is directly connected to SDG 4, which aims to ensure quality education for all. The target under SDG 4 that can be identified based on the article’s content is Target 4.1, which focuses on ensuring that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.

The article provides a specific indicator that can be used to measure progress towards this target, which is the percentage of high school graduates or higher by state. The article lists the percentages for each state, highlighting the variation in educational attainment across different regions.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: newsweek.com

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