Opportunity Nation, a coalition of 300 community organizations, has released its latest Opportunity Index, a Web-based tool that allows users to see their community’s performance on 16 different indicators.
For education, the index evaluates communities and states based on preschool enrollment, on-time high school graduation rate, and the percentage of adults older than 25 who have earned an associate’s degree or higher. Other indicators include economic data, such as unemployment rates, and community health information such as the percent of volunteers and access to doctors.
The District of Columbia claimed the top spot on preschool enrollment, with 76 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled. Nevada was at the bottom, with 32 percent of its 3- and 4-year-olds in preschool. The national average is about 47 percent.
