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When considering a location or a company, one crucial factor is the educational level of its residents. The saying goes that a company’s greatest assets leave each day, highlighting the importance of an educated workforce.
Identifying cities in Texas with lower educational attainment is essential for both businesses and job seekers looking to thrive in a competitive environment.
Wondering how we determine which cities rank lower in education? If you’re pondering that question, you likely don’t reside in one of these cities.
After conducting our research, we turned to reliable demographic data sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, to identify the criteria for evaluating educational attainment.
We focused on the percentage of adults without a high school diploma and the number of public and private schools per capita among the 157 largest cities in Texas. After analyzing the data, we compiled a list of cities with the lowest educational attainment:
- Balch Springs
- Channelview
- Pharr
- Grand Prairie
- Laredo
- Garland
- Watauga
- Alamo
- Mineral Wells
- Brownsville
Continue reading to discover why these cities face educational challenges, or scroll down for a complete chart of our analysis.
How We Determined the Cities with the Lowest Educational Attainment in Texas
To assess which cities to evaluate, we focused on those with populations exceeding 10,000 and for which we had comprehensive data.
This left us with 158 cities in Texas.
We examined the following criteria to distinguish educational attainment:
- Percentage of adults without a high school diploma (Higher percentage indicates lower educational attainment)
- Public schools per capita (Lower number indicates fewer educational resources)
- Private schools per capita (Lower number indicates fewer educational options)
Our data was sourced from AreaVibes’ census information.
We believe these criteria accurately reflect the current educational climate and the potential for improvement in future generations. It’s worth noting that around 80% of students graduate from high school nationwide.
We ranked all cities in each criterion from one to 158, with one being the lowest in any category. The average rank across all criteria determined the overall rankings, with the lowest score designating the “City with the Lowest Educational Attainment in Texas.”
If your city isn’t listed among the top 10, check the end of the article for a detailed chart. Otherwise, let’s explore the reasons behind the low rankings of these cities.
1. Balch Springs
Population: 23,853
People Without A High School Degree: 39.6%
Balch Springs ranks as the city with the lowest educational attainment in Texas. With nearly 40% of its adult population lacking a high school diploma, it falls in the bottom decile of educational attainment across Texas.
Additionally, with only two public schools, the city faces significant challenges in fostering educational growth.
2. Channelview
Population: 38,958
People Without A High School Degree: 35.0%
Channelview finds itself as the second lowest in educational attainment, with over one-third of its residents not completing high school. Despite a reasonable number of public schools, there’s only one private school in the area.
The city’s status as a Census Designated Place (CDP) reflects its ongoing struggles with educational development.
3. Pharr
Population: 70,119
People Without A High School Degree: 43.0%
Pharr ranks third in educational challenges, with a staggering 43% of its residents not having graduated high school. The city maintains an average number of public schools, which may provide hope for future generations.
4. Grand Prairie
Population: 174,631
People Without A High School Degree: 26.3%
Tied with Pharr, Grand Prairie has about 26% of its adult population without a high school diploma. While this percentage is not the highest, the city ranks poorly in both public and private schools per capita.
Community initiatives may be needed to improve educational resources.
5. Laredo
Population: 236,063
People Without A High School Degree: 38.2%
As the largest city on this list, Laredo faces significant educational challenges, with nearly 38% of residents lacking a high school diploma. The city also has a below-average number of both public and private schools, which can hinder educational progress.
6. Garland
Population: 227,641
People Without A High School Degree: 26.7%
Garland, frequently recognized as a decent place to live, ranks sixth for educational attainment. Over one-fourth of its residents lack a high school diploma, coupled with a low number of public and private educational institutions.
The local economy, driven by the oil industry, may overshadow educational needs.
7. Watauga
Population: 23,600
People Without A High School Degree: 20.4%
Watauga ranks seventh, but it’s notable that it has a lower percentage of residents without a high school diploma compared to other cities on this list. However, the city lacks sufficient public schools, placing it in this category.
8. Alamo
Population: 18,345
People Without A High School Degree: 44.2%
Alamo’s educational attainment issues are highlighted by a staggering 44% of residents lacking a high school diploma. Despite this, there’s a reasonable number of public schools, which could support future educational improvements.
9. Mineral Wells
Population: 17,021
People Without A High School Degree: 40.9%
Mineral Wells ranks ninth, with nearly 41% of its adult population not completing high school. The city, however, offers a decent number of educational institutions that could cater to the younger generation.
10. Brownsville
Population: 175,210
People Without A High School Degree: 43.8%
Completing our list, Brownsville struggles with a significant number of residents lacking a high school diploma. As one of the larger cities on this list, the educational challenges it faces are pronounced, impacting community discussions and future opportunities.
Understanding the educational landscape in Texas is vital for residents, businesses, and policymakers. Addressing these challenges will be essential for fostering a more educated workforce and improving overall community outcomes.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
