Thousands of people in Texas are impacted by an invisible separation known as the education gap, which exists in this huge state where the horizon appears to go forever.
In order to explore the core of Texas’ educational inequalities, this article highlights five counties where pursuing a college education appears to be as far away as the vast plains themselves.
The low proportion of citizens in these counties having a bachelor’s degree or above highlights a larger problem of educational inequality in the country.
Join us as we explore the potential and difficulties that lie ahead in closing the education gap while navigating the nuances of Texas’s educational attainment.
Cochran County
The level of education among Cochran County’s population 25 years of age and older varies greatly. Merely 8% of individuals possess a bachelor’s degree or above.
With a median income of $23,482, the majority of the population—32.4%—does not have a high school education. High school graduates make up 30.7% of the population and are closely behind, with somewhat higher median earnings at $33,500.
With typical earnings of $34,511, a sizable percentage, 28.9%, have completed some college or obtained an Associate’s degree.
While making up a smaller portion of the population (5.7%), those with a bachelor’s degree earn $50,208 on average. The minority, or 2.3%, hold professional or graduate degrees and make an average of $52,500.
Frio County
Residents of Frio County who are 25 years of age and older have remarkably different levels of education. Merely 7.3% possess a bachelor’s degree or above.
With 34.2% of the population having completed high school, 33.8% having less than a high school diploma, and 24.7% having attended some college or obtained an associate’s degree, the majority of the population falls into other educational groups.
The range of median earnings, which starts at $18,118 for those without a high school diploma and goes up to $62,981 for those with graduate or professional degrees, also reflects this variance in educational backgrounds.
Remarkably, despite the comparatively low percentage of residents with a bachelor’s degree (3.9%), their median income is $39,297.
Read Also: Leaving Texas Behind: 5 Town’s Residents Seeking Fresh Starts in Other Cities
La Salle County
Approximately 7.5% of La Salle County’s population who are over 25 have a bachelor’s degree or above. The county’s educational attainment varies greatly; 36.5% of people have a median salary of $16,359, while the remaining persons have less than a high school diploma.
With a median salary of $34,418 per year, 38.6% more people are high school graduates. Furthermore, 17.5% of the population has either achieved an Associate’s degree or some college credits, with a median income of $33,500.
Less than one-half, or 6.2%, have a bachelor’s degree and earn a median income of $55,992, while 1.2% have a graduate or professional degree.
Read Also:Â Texas Rent Increase Laws 2024: What Tenants Should Know
Kenedy County
Just 1% of people in Kenedy County who are 25 years of age or older have a bachelor’s degree or above. Significant differences characterize the educational landscape; the majority, or 73.5%, have less than a high school diploma and earn a median salary of $30,662.
20.2% of the population has a high school degree and makes $32,875, which is not far behind. With significantly greater median earnings of $54,167, just a small minority, 5.2%, have pursued some college education or earned an Associate’s degree.
Interestingly, only 0.3% of people have a bachelor’s degree, making it incredibly uncommon. Just 0.8% of residents pursue graduate or professional degrees, indicating a similar lack of interest.
Read Also: Texan Tales: Exploring the Cultural Corners of Texas’ College Towns
Loving County
A population of 25 years of age and older with a specific distribution of educational attainment characterizes Loving County’s unique demographic profile. What makes this age group unique is that, shockingly, not a single person in it has a bachelor’s degree or above.
Rather, the assortment of attainment levels across the educational environment is wide. Equal numbers of people have completed their high school education and 19.7% have not. An Associate’s degree or any college have been the means of further education for the majority, or 60.5% of the population.
There are surprisingly few documented instances of people in this county possessing a bachelor’s degree, let alone advanced graduate or professional degrees, indicating a different educational path in the community.
Read Also:Â Fur-Tastic Texas Stays: 5 Hotels Where Pets Are Welcome
To Conclude
Texas’s educational system is everything but homogeneous. College degrees are rare in places like Cochran and Loving, exposing a harsh reality. As a result, citizens’ economic prospects are limited and the opportunity gap develops.
In order to close the education gap, each county’s unique demands must be taken into consideration.
Regardless of where they live, investing in early childhood education, career guidance, and reasonably priced higher education opportunities are essential steps towards a better future for all Texans.
