This indicator is part of Educated, literate residents.

Indicator description:

Adult educational achievement demonstrates the percentage of adults, 25 years  of age and older, who have attained various levels of formal education. This includes those who graduated from high school, those who completed a bachelor's degree and those with any advanced degree, including a master's degree, doctorate, or advanced professional degree such as a medical doctor or juris doctor (law degree). These rates include both adults who are educated locally, and also those who are educated elsewhere and relocate to Albuquerque. Adult educational achievement indicates the success of the community in educating residents and also in attracting individuals who possess an education.

Why is this indicator relevant?

Adults with at least a high school degree are more likely to be employed and earn more than less educated counterparts. Although this indicator is not a direct measure of the literacy rate, adults with at least a high school equivalency degree are almost certainly literate. What happens in the classroom is only part of the story; family characteristics have from 5-10 times as much impact as school characteristics. Community characteristics have a similar effect on educational achievement as school characteristics.

Data Source:
American Community Survey, US Census Bureau, 2002-2007.

What can we tell from the data?

• Albuquerque's rate of adults with a high school education or higher has held steady since 2002.
• Compared to peer Southwest cities, Albuquerque has the second highest rate of residents with advanced academic degrees, and the second highest percentage with a high-school education or above.

For Help in understanding this page, see Understanding Indicators.