6 Most Educated Races in America

Which are the most educated races in America?

Officially, according to the United States Census Bureau, five races are identified by name. These are White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. You can read up on the origins of each of the mentioned races if you follow the link. The sixth division that the Census uses to bifurcate people racially is the category named “two or more races.” If a certain person checks more than one box when asked the question of race, they are classified in the aforementioned category. Therefore, these are the six classifications of races that we have used to create our ranking.

The United States spends a high percentage of its GDP on education which is why it is no surprise that it ranks so high on the list of 10 countries that spend the most on education per student. But how exactly does each race residing in the country rank in its education? To answer this question we referred to the report issued by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) which examines the Status and Trends in the Education of Racial and Ethnic Groups in 2016. This report  has a multitude of information, and we decided to use four basic criteria to formulate the list of 6 most educated races in America. The criteria we used are as follows:

• Percentage of students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools (indicator 6 of the report);
• High school status completion rates (indicator 17 of the report);
• College enrollment rates (indicator 18 of the report);
• Post-secondary graduation rate (indicator 21 of the report);

You can learn more about the specifics of these factors and how they were computed from the NCES report. Now let’s get down to the actual list of most educated races in America, in which the ranks will definitely surprise you.

6. American Indian or Alaska Native

Percentage of students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools: 1%

High school completion rate: 92%

College enrollment rate: 32%

Post-secondary graduation rate: 41%

We start off the list with American Indians, the race which ranked the lowest in three of our four categories. This race, though not very educated as compared to other races, has improved its position over the past few years. However, the thing that pushes it down our list is the especially low elementary and secondary school enrollment rate which has alarmingly stayed at 1% since 2002.

5. Black or African American

Percentage of students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools: 16%

High school completion rate: 92%

College enrollment rate: 34%

Post-secondary graduation rate: 41%

39% of African American children who are below the age of eighteen are officially considered to be the victims of poverty, and this percentage is higher for this race than any other in the US. This state of destitution forms a hindrance for the race to educate itself more thoroughly.

4. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

Percentage of students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools: 5%

High school completion rate: 99%

College enrollment rate: 33%

Post-secondary graduation rate: 50%

This race ranked the highest in the category of high school completion. In fact, if we dwell deeper into the results of the report, it seems that Native Hawaiians have improved in almost every aspect of education which is why they have left behind Blacks and Native Americans on our list of 6 most educated races in America.

3. Two or More Races

Percentage of students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools: 3%

High school completion rate: 94%

College enrollment rate: 45%

Post-secondary graduation rate: 68%

The data for multiracial people was not available for earlier years as it was for other races but in recent years, studies are being conducted in a more detailed manner, taking into account this category as well.

2. White

Percentage of students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools: 51%

High school completion rate: 94%

College enrollment rate: 42%

Post-secondary graduation rate: 63%

It was quite a surprise to know that the most dominant race of the United States is not at number one on our list. However, that is not to say that it’s not doing well. It ranked number one in the category of enrollment in elementary and secondary schools, and for some, that might be the most significant criterion.

1. Asian

Percentage of students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools: 5%

High school completion rate: 96%

College enrollment rate: 62%

Post-secondary graduation rate: 71%

We certainly don’t mean to support any stereotypes, but it looks like Asians are in fact pretty smart, considering that Asian Americans have bagged the number one spot in this ranking.

We conclude with the fact that our list of 6 most educated races in America was not meant to offend anyone and we merely created the ranking by giving the numbers the final word.