50 years ago, the United States had the most

educated population in the world. Now, we do

not even rank in the top ten.

While all other developed countries have been

increasing their education levels, only the U.S.
and Germany have young people less
educated than their parents.
 Special Session on
Education
2010

60

Age 25-34

Age 45-54

40

20

Source: Education at a Glance, 2006, OECD & WVHEPC


While West Virginia has increased the number
of citizens with a bachelor’s degree in the last
17 years, the growth has been slower than
that of the nation and of the other Southern
Regional Education Board states.

WV still ranks 50th in the country in

percentage of the adult population with a
bachelor’s degree.
 Special Session on
Education
2010

P e rc ent a ge o f P o pula t io n 2 5 o r O lde r wit h a

B a c he lo r's D e gre e ( F ull C e nsus and A m e ric a n C o mm unit y Surve y) WV ranked
16th in the
19 9 0 19 9 5 2 0 00 2005 2007 % C ha nge SREB in
Unit e d S ta t e s 2 0 .3% 2 3 .0 % 24 .4 % 2 7 .2 % 27 .5 % 7.2 % 2007 and
S R EB S ta t e s 18 .6 % 19 .9 % 22 .4 % 2 3 .8 % 24 .0 % 5.4 % 50th
nationally.
A la ba m a 15 .7 % 17 .3 % 19 .0 % 21.4 % 2 1.4 % 5.7 %
A rk a ns a s 13 .3 % 14 .2 % 16 .7 % 18 .9 % 19 .3 % 6.0 %
In order to
D e lawa re 2 1.4% 2 2 .9% 2 5 .0 % 27 .6 % 26 .1% 4 .7 %
reach the
F lo rida 18 .3 % 2 2 .1% 22 .3 % 2 5 .8 % 2 5 .1% 6.8 %
SREB
G e o rgia 19 .6 % 2 2 .7 % 24 .3 % 27 .1% 2 7 .1% 7.5 %
average,
Ke ntuc k y 13 .6 % 19 .3 % 17 .1% 19 .3 % 20 .0 % 6.4 %
Lo uis ia na 16 .1% 2 0 .1% 18 .7 % 2 0 .6 % 20 .4 % 4.3 % WV needs
M a ryla nd 2 6 .5% 2 6 .4 % 3 1.4 % 3 4 .5 % 35 .2 % 8.7 % to create
M is sis s ippi 14 .7 % 17 .6 % 16 .9 % 18 .7 % 18 .9 % 4.2 % or import
N o rth C aro lina 17 .4 % 2 0 .6 % 22 .5 % 25 .1% 25 .6 % 8.2 % 117,984
O k laho ma 17 .8 % 19 .1% 20 .3 % 2 2 .4 % 22 .8 % 5.0 %
graduates
S o ut h C a ro lina 16 .6 % 18 .2 % 20 .4 % 2 3 .0 % 23 .5 % 6.9 %
T e nne s s e e 16 .0 % 17 .8 % 19 .6 % 21.8 % 2 1.8 % 5.8 %
T e xa s 2 0 .3% 2 2 .0 % 23 .2 % 25 .1% 25 .2 % 4.9 %
V irginia 2 4 .5% 2 6 .0 % 29 .5 % 3 3 .2 % 33 .6 % 9 .1%
We st Virginia 12 .3 % 12 .7 % 14 .8 % 16 .9 % 17 .3 % 5.0 %

Source: U.S. Census Bureau and WVHEPC


The math test scores for West Virginia’s 4th
graders are below 41 other states.

While 4th grade math test scores have

increased since 1990, West Virginia is still
below the national average.
WV 4th Grade
NAEP Score
Consistently
Below National
Average

West Virginia is losing students at all stages
of the education process.

Without supporting student success in all

grades, West Virginia and the United States
will not be able to compete with the rest of
the world.