Education
The numbers
Educational levels of older Texans continue to be lower than those of younger age groups. According to the 2000 Census, 61.7 percent of Texans age 65 and older have at least a high school diploma compared to 76.7 percent of those age 18 to 64.
The percentage of older adults who have completed high school also varies considerably by race and ethnicity. Anglos have the largest percent of high school graduates (74%), followed by Asians and Pacific Islander (63%), African-Americans (46%), and Hispanics (37%).
The education level of the older population, however, will increase in the coming decades as well-educated Baby Boomers reach older age. Between 1970 and 2000, the percentage of older adults who completed high school increased from 28 percent to more than 60 percent . Furthermore, the 2000 Census estimates that 16 percent of older Texans have a Bachelor's degree or higher.
Updated: November 2, 2007
