Several Texas cities were recently ranked among the least educated cities in the United States. Two of these cities were listed among the worst, with El Paso also falling well below the average in terms of educational attainment.
According to a report by Newsweek, 150 cities across the U.S. were graded, with the least educated city being Visalia, California. It took the #1 spot with a score of just 9.12 out of 100.
The Ranking System
Cities were ranked based on several factors, with the main two being:
The number of residents who advanced to higher levels of education.
The quality and performance of the local education system.
These factors included things like the percentage of adults who finished high school, attended college, or earned advanced degrees. It also considered how well local schools and universities perform, and whether there is equal access to educational opportunities for all groups, regardless of race or gender.
After considering these elements, a total score out of 100 was given to each city.
Texas Cities Ranked Low
Brownsville and McAllen, Texas, were among the lowest-ranked cities in the study. Brownsville scored 13.09 out of 100, while McAllen scored 14.1 out of 100. They were right behind Visalia, which ranked #1 in educational struggles.
El Paso also ranked poorly, scoring 35.12 out of 100, placing it in the lower half of the rankings.
Cities in Texas on the List
In total, 10 Texas cities made it into the list of the 150 largest metros studied by Wallethub. These cities were:
Austin
Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)
Houston
San Antonio
Killeen-Temple
El Paso (#132)
Corpus Christi
Beaumont-Port Arthur
McAllen
Brownsville
These cities were evaluated for their educational attainment, with some scoring better than others. Despite the challenges, it’s important to note that Texas continues to work on improving its education systems and providing equal opportunities for all residents.