Number of Years of School Completed by the 25 Years or Older Population in Franklin County, Columbus and the Remainder of Franklin County

The general trend in Franklin County continues to be towards a better educated population. Over the last two decades the percentage of the population with at least a high school diploma (or equivalency) increased from 61.1% in 1970 to 81.0% in 1990. The percentage with a college diploma or better also increased, from 14.5% in 1970 to 26.6% in 1990.

As the percentage of more-educated persons increased, the percentage with less education decreased. Over the period 1970-1990 the percentage of the 25 years or older population with less than a high school education decreased from 39.0% to 19.0%. This represented 113,495 Franklin County residents in 1990.

Within Franklin County, over the same period, suburban populations (i.e., outside of Columbus) were better educated than those in the city of Columbus. In 1990, 85.1% of Franklin County's suburban population 25 years or older had completed at least a high school education, compared to 78.7% in Columbus. This gap is shrinking, however, as the rate of improvement in school completed by Columbus residents has outpaced the rate of improvement of suburban residents.

Number of Years of School Completed by the 25 Years or Older Population in Franklin County, Columbus and the Remainder of Franklin County: 1970-1990

Franklin County

                     1970                1980                1990
Yrs. Compl.    Persons   Percent   Persons   Percent   Persons   Percent

0-8 Years       80,324     18.9     56,135     11.4     30,005      5.0
9-11 Years      85,338     20.1     76,413     15.6     83,490     14.0
12 Years       149,716     35.2    175,932     35.9    173,593     29.1
13-15 Years     48,370     11.4     77,965     15.9    151,154     25.3
16+ Years       61,749     14.5    103,940     21.2    159,061     26.6

Totals         425,497    100.0    490,385    100.0    597,303    100.0


Columbus

                     1970                1980                1990
Yrs. Compl.    Persons   Percent   Persons   Percent   Persons   Percent


0-8 Years       61,031     22.3     41,885     13.4     21,758      5.7
9-11 Years      60,468     22.1     55,075     17.7     60,180     15.6
12 Years        93,140     34.1    109,130     35.0    110,074     28.6
13-15 Years     27,669     10.1     47,569     15.3     98,181     25.5 
16+ Years       31,174     11.3     57,939     18.6     94,618     24.6

Totals         273,482    100.0    311,598    100.0    384,811    100.0


Remainder of Franklin County

                     1970                1980                1990
Yrs. Compl.    Persons   Percent   Persons   Percent   Persons   Percent


0-8 Years       19,293     12.7     14,250      8.0      8,247      3.9
9-11 Years      24,870     16.4     21,338     11.9     23,310     11.0
12 Years        56,576     37.2     66,802     37.4     63,519     29.9
13-15 Years     20,701     13.6     30,396     17.0     52,973     24.9
16+ Years       30,575     20.1     46,001     25.7     64,443     30.3

Totals         152,015    100.0    178,787    100.0    212,492    100.0

Note: Categories of 12 years of school completed or more indicate at least a high school diploma. The category 13-15 years includes persons who have attended college but not graduated, and persons who have attended or graduated with an associate degree. The category 16+ years includes persons who have completed a bachelor's degree, and persons who have attended or completed professional or graduate school.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, U.S. Bureau of the Census

Filename: CD-014

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