Education Attainment
Education attainment is measured by the proportion of adults (ages 18+) who have graduated from high school. Education builds up knowledge and skills and expands opportunities for people. People who graduate from high school are more likely to have better long-term employment and health outcomes. On the societal level, an educated workforce could mean high levels of productivity and economic growth and stability.
Key Findings
Between 2013 and 2022, the percentage of people in Washington with a high school degree or higher consistently increased.
However, there are gaps in education attainment across geography. In 2022, counties which are rural and in central Washington had among the lowest percentages of people with a high school degree or higher. Whitman county had the highest percentages of high school graduates of around 97%.
Education attainment also remains unequal across racial and ethnic groups. The percentage of people with high school degree or higher is markedly higher for people who identify as White, not Hispanic or Latino (96%), than people who identify as Hispanic (72%) or some other race (66%).
It is important to note that the disparities in education attainment often relates to opportunity gaps and systemic inequities, where there is unequal access to experienced teachers and resources.
This indicator was developed using data on the percent of population in Washington over 18 with a high school diploma or higher.
ACS 5-year estimate data are chosen over ACS 1-year estimate data because they are generally considered as more reliable for small populations and allow for the analysis of data across counties.