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High School Graduate Population
The percentage of adults in the City of St. Louis age 18 and over that are high school graduates or equivalent
White adults are 15% more likely than black adults to be high school graduates.
A score of 100 represents racial equity, meaning there are no racial disparities in outcomes between black and white populations. The lower the Equity Score, the greater the disparity.
For High School Graduate Population, a score of 100 — a score reflecting racial equity — would mean black and white adults are equally likely to be high school graduates. It is important to note that for this indicator, equity is not our only goal: we also want to improve outcomes for all.
More Information
What does this indicator measure?
High School Graduate Population measures the percentage of adults in the City of St. Louis age 18 and over that are high school graduates or equivalent. In 2016, 87.1% of adults age 18 and over were high school graduates.
High school graduate population analysis
Adults age 18 and over that are high school graduates (or equivalent) in St. Louis City.
| All | White | Black | Disparity Ratio | Equity Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High school graduates | 217,740 | 111,071 | 88,667 | - | - |
| Adult population | 250,035 | 119,159 | 108,909 | - | - |
| Percent of adults that are high school graduates | 87.1% | 93.2% | 81.4 | 1.145 to 1 | 78 |
Data Source: American Community Survey 1-year PUMS, 2016.
Data Note: PUMS data may differ slightly from estimates on American FactFinder due to differences in sampling. See PUMS technical documentation for more information. Estimates for Hispanic residents are based on a small number of sample cases and should be interpreted with extreme caution. The number of sample cases is too small to report reliable estimates for additional racial groups.
What does this analysis mean?
White adults in the City of St. Louis are 15% more likely to be high school graduates than black adults. White adults are the most likely to be high school graduates (93.2%). Hispanic adults are the least likely to be high school graduates (75.2%), followed by black adults (81.4%). If educational attainment were equitable, there would be 12,836 more black high school graduates.
Why does High School Graduate Population matter?
Earning a high school diploma is a minimum requirement for many jobs and to pursue further education. Residents who drop out of school have lower incomes and have fewer job opportunities than more educated peers. According to a report by St. Louis Community College, "In St. Louis, the highest unemployment rates and lowest wages belong to those workers with less than a high school education. Unemployment rates for a less than high school graduate are nearly 50% higher than those of a worker with a high school diploma or GED." The racial disparity in dropout rate means black youth are more likely to face high unemployment and low wages, which results in disparities in later life and subsequent generations. In addition, according to research by the Alliance for Excellent Education, high school dropouts are "less healthy, require more medical care, and die earlier."
Which Calls to Action from the Ferguson Commission report are linked with this indicator?
To increase educational attainment, the Ferguson Commission calls to action include:
Questions for further investigation:
- Why is there a racial disparity in educational attainment?
- What can St. Louis do to reduce racial disparities in educational attainment?
- What initiatives are currently underway to reduce racial disparities in educational attainment?
How can I learn more about this issue?
The National Center for Education Statistics at the U.S. Department of Education released a report in 2017 on the "Status and Trends in the Education of Racial and Ethnic Groups."
