Here's a site that tracks Educational Needs.
Yakima Country ranks 59th (from the bottom) out of 2071 overall and 32nd in Education in particular. (And last year we were 100th. That's right, we've gotten worse. Jeez.)
This is a site that Wilma referenced in class on Friday. And it's really been bugging me all weekend. My first reaction: I've got to get out of this place. My second reaction: Well, if I want to make a difference, this is the place to be.
In any case, it definitely shows us why it's critical to understand Angela Whitiker's situation. We're living in one of the poorest, least educated places in the country and it's up to us to figure out a way to change this.
The three factors drive the ENI model and the variables that make up each factor are:
Educational Factor – Indicators assess the educational capacity of a region’s adult population. Indicators measure the percent of the population with a high school degree, associate’s degree, and bachelor’s degree, and a measure of the educational attainment gap between younger and older members of the workforce.
Economic Factor - Indicators in this category assess the degree of economic challenges facing counties. Indicators measure the percent of population in poverty, unemployment rates, the existing earnings capacity of residents, and dependence upon manufacturing and extraction jobs.
Population Factor – Indicators assess the present population growth issues facing the county and potential need for increased emphasis on human capital development to address changing demographics. Indicators measure recent and project population growth, population aged 19 and younger as a percent of the total population, population aged 20-44, and the relative size of an area’s at-risk minority population (African-Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans).
9 comments:
I see the ranking for Yakima and want to get out too. I never really liked it here anyway. Its interesting to see the data for my home town because they are so much higher then Yakima is.
After seeing these statistics, it scary to think that Yakima is way below the score. Especially when all this time you thought that Yakima was doing well. It does encourage me to want to get out of this place and go somewhere better like the seattle area.
Although the statistics are scary, what about the low cost for homes and all that other stuff and minimum wage in Washington overall is the highest. I do wish to move out of Yakima after graduation, but am considering staying within the state!
The Educational Needs Index website really opens your eyes and makes you realize that its kinda scary to see yakima almost at the bottom! It was fun looking at the other states and seeing how much better some where than here. Also it was scary to look at the lowest few states and how high the % was that even graduated highschool!!!
I did not realize that Yakima was so close to the bottom! That statistic was quite a shock. Although i can understand why people would instantly want to get out, i like your approach, Mr. Peters. I think we need more people like you willing to stay and try to raise these statistics!!
It is weird how the education level can be so low in Yakima Country while simultaniously it is one of the strongest economies against the current recession. I wonder if there is a correlation between the amount of education an area has and their rate of success in fighting the crumbling economy.
The statistics on this article scare me. Yakima needs to step it up. Actually, Washington in general needs to really work on it.
When I saw the statistics I was a bit freaked out. Why did I move back to Yakima??? I think Yakima has potential to get better but for now, I'm wishing to be elsewhere. I'd probably leave the state entirely if I could.
I never really thought Yakima was doing well, but not bad either... This is kind of scary and we need to get back on our feet. And minimum wage and housing is cheap is why you would want to stay here and deal with everything else around here?
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