Population Demographic Characteristics - Education, No High School Diploma

Why Is This Important?

A good education leads to good health in several ways. First, the more schooling people have, the more money they earn which enables them to purchase better housing in safer neighborhoods, healthier food, better medical care and health insurance, and more education. Each of these factors is associated with improved health. Each one allows individuals to move up the occupational and income ladder, giving them more prestige and power, both of which are associated with better health. High school completion is also the gateway into college, which offers even greater benefits than high school alone. Second, education facilitates healthier behavior choices by offering learners access to health information and tools to acquire help and resources, such as smoking cessation programs. Third, education helps people to acquire social support, strengthen social networks, and mitigate social stressors. The more education people have the more social support they have. Education helps people to gain a sense of control over their lives, an outcome associated with better health.

Definition

The percentage of adults age 25 years and older with no high school diploma (including equivalency).

Data Sources

• New Mexico Population Estimates: University of New Mexico, Geospatial and Population Studies (GPS) Program.
  (http://gps.unm.edu/)
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates
  (https://data.census.gov)
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  (http://data.census.gov)

How the Measure is Calculated

Evidence-based Practices

Children who participate in high-quality preschool programs are more likely to complete high school.

Other Objectives

New Mexico Early Learning, Race to the Top Indicator

More Resources

(1) U.S. Department of Commerce news RELEASE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2001. Retrieved August 20, 2009 from the U.S. Census Bureau website, http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01cs04.html. (2) Effect Of Census 2000 Undercount On Federal Funding To States And Selected Counties, 2002-2012, Price Waterhouse Coopers. Retrieved on August 20, 2009 from http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/cmb/cmbp/reports/final_report/fin_sec5_effect.pdf. (3) The 2000 Census Undercount and What it Means for New Mexico, A Kids Count Special Report, May 2008, New Mexico Voices for Children. Retrieved August 20, 2009 from http://www.nmvoices.org/attachments/nmkc_census_undercounts_5-08.pdf.