As Pennsylvania’s high school seniors prepare to celebrate their graduation, a sobering reality looms: for many in the state, a high school diploma remains out of reach.
Census data from 2022 paints a troubling picture, revealing that around 9.4% of Pennsylvanians aged 25 to 65 lack this crucial credential, underscoring significant disparities in educational attainment.
In comparison to other states, Pennsylvania’s rate of adults without a high school diploma is tied for the 10th lowest, alongside Massachusetts. Meanwhile, states like Hawaii and Maine boast the lowest rates, while others, such as Texas, California, and Nevada, grapple with higher rates of adults without diplomas.
While regions like Western and Southeastern Pennsylvania generally fare better in terms of educational attainment, urban areas like Philadelphia face greater challenges, with an estimated 13% of working-aged adults lacking a complete high school education.
Delving into county-level data, Butler County emerges as a beacon of progress, boasting the lowest rate of adults without diplomas at 4.9%. Yet, disparities persist across the state, with some counties reporting rates as high as 6.9%.
Nationally, men bear a disproportionate burden, with over 9.3 million men lacking diplomas compared to about 7.8 million women. This gender gap is a prevailing trend across the country, although exceptions exist in places like Hawaii and Washington, D.C., where women marginally outnumber men without diplomas.
Addressing this educational divide demands a unified approach at both state and local levels. By investing in robust programs that support adult education and workforce development, Pennsylvania can pave the way towards closing the gap and ensuring that all residents have equal access to the opportunities afforded by a high school diploma.