Deep Driver: Education

While traditionally low levels of education attainment have steadily improved, as the end of the decade nears, it becomes clear that the pace of progress is insufficient to attain the Deep Driver goal designed to leapfrog Louisville into the top tier among its peer cities. Despite a growing consensus and commitment to double the numbers on education attainment, in the latest Census update, Louisville maintains its ranking in the middle tier based on the percentage of young adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher, but the actual number has fallen below the count in Census 2000. Further, with the proportion of college-educated young adults in Louisville hovering around 30%, it is not gaining on more highly educated cities, where that rate now tops 40% and approaches 50%.

The Jefferson County Public Schools are undertaking ambitious new initiatives to raise education achievement in elementary and secondary schools, including a public commitment to increase the high school graduation rate. State data shows that the high school graduation rate has averaged 73% for the last five years.

The region’s postsecondary institutions, which enroll the majority of local college-bound graduates, meanwhile, have increased the numbers of associate, bachelor’s and graduate degrees awarded by almost 40% or more in each category since 2000.