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2.6.1 Share of the Population Ages 25+ with a High School Diploma, GED or Less
Why is this important?
High school completion represents a fundamental educational achievement holding important implications for both students and public education systems. For individuals, obtaining a high school diploma offers the expectation of more stable employment prospects, higher lifetime earnings, and the opportunity to continue one's education at the postsecondary level. For school districts and other educational agencies, the share of their high school students that earn a diploma (or of those who do not) is now a major component of their scorecard.
For communities, the educational achievement of its residents affects what kind of employers operate in the area and thus the overall economic vitality. If the local workforce does not have adequate skills, many employers will find a different community to operate in.
This indicator measures shares of the population age 25 or older in Walla Walla & Columbia Counties combined, whose highest level of educational attainment is a high school diploma or GED and those residents who have yet to earn either. Washington State and the U.S. are offered as benchmarks. Additional information, including historical data previous to Walla Walla becoming a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in 2013, can be found in the “Download Data” section.
According to the US Census Bureau, the pandemic made the collection of accurate one-year estimates for the American Community Survey (ACS) impossible in 2020. Five-year estimates might be available for popular series in early 2022.
Where are we?
During 2023 in Walla Walla & Columbia Counties combined, the share of the population ages 25 or older with the highest level of educational attainment being:
- A high school diploma or GED was 24.2%, decreasing from 25.4% in 2013 (not statistically significant).
- No high school diploma or GED was 10.5%, decreasing from 10.3% in 2013.
By comparison in Washington State during 2023, the share of the population ages 25 or older with the highest level of educational attainment being:
- A high school diploma or GED was 21.6%, decreasing from 23.3% in 2013 (statistically significant).
- No high school diploma or GED was 7.6%, decreasing from 9.9% in 2013.
In the U.S. during 2023, the share of the population ages 25 or older with the highest level of educational attainment being:
- A high school diploma or GED was 25.9%, decreasing from 27.8% in 2013 (statistically significant).
- No high school diploma or GED was 10.2%, decreasing from 13.4% in 2013.
Data Sources
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey (ACS) - Explore Census Data
Notes:
1) This information comes from a survey, so the data presented are estimates. All significant tests are done at the 90% confidence interval. The margin of errors is provided in the “Download Data” section.
2) Not all indicators can be tested for statistical significance. For example, some indicators use portions of data from multiple ACS sources, and the test is cannot be running. If available, the results of the test are offered. When no test results are offered, the statistical significance test was not able to be conducted.
3) Learn more about the ACS:
