This report on Texas metros among most uneducated in U.S. sadly aligns to another study by consumeraffirs.com reported by Alexis Simmerman titled, "Texas is 3rd-worst state to move to in 2024, recent study says. This tells me that Texas is underinvesting in public education, health and other areas. It also tells me that we need better leadership in government that's willing to fund our schools equitably and at a higher level. We are too big a state for us to rank at the bottom. Lastly, it doesn't mean that many among us haven't dedicated our lives and careers to make Texas a better state.

Neither report takes into account what could and should be a bright spot regarding the benefits that immigrants bring to Texas and our nation. Check out this helpful analysis by Benjamin Wermund in a July 26, 2024 article published in the Houston Chronicle titled, Recent wave of illegal immigration could net the federal government nearly $1 trillion, study says where he notes a report by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.

"The CBO estimates the immigration surge will create $1.2 trillion in federal revenue over the next decade, mostly from income taxes and spending by the estimated 8.7 million migrants living in the U.S. during that time. Those same migrants would cost the federal government just $300 billion in health care and other costs, according to the estimate, bringing the net benefit to $900 billion." 

Of course, neither Greg Abbott nor Lt. Governor Dan Patrick could care less about immigrants or the value they add when like Donald Trump, it gives them an issue to rile up their base. Again, we need different leaders. Elections matter. Voting matters.

When we consider all these immigrant newcomers entering our state, we need to consider the costs of not educating them or providing them with adequate health care—particularly since the CBO and other studies show that, on average, they give our country so much more than they receive in services. 

I hope that the Harris-Walz campaign gets messages like these across so that these folks aren't demonized or dehumanized, on the one hand. On the other, they should get recognized for the value they add to our state and nation. A pathway to citizenship is the least our country should do for this hard-working, frequently exploited, community.

-Angela Valenzuela

Study: With the exception of Austin area, Texas metros among most uneducated in U.S.

by Alexis Simmerman

Austin American-Statesman | August 5, 2024

Several Texas cities are among the least educated in the U.S., a recent survey shows. In a July 2024 study, WalletHub analyzed 150 of the country's largest metro areas and compared them across 11 factors related to education.

Education plays an important role in an area's economy. Those with higher levels of education generally receive higher salaries and can therefore contribute more tax dollars over time.

And those with more education tend to want to live somewhere with more opportunities to use that education. People tend to marry others with the same education level, which means cities with well-educated inhabitants are likely to welcome more people with degrees.

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However, education is only one of many factors that determine where someone wants to live. Other factors can be personal preferences or sociopolitical standing. In the recent study, WalletHub analyst Cassandra Hope shared some insight on the relationship between education and where people live.

"Higher education doesn’t guarantee better financial opportunities in the future, but it certainly correlates with it," Hope said. "The most educated cities provide good learning opportunities from childhood all the way through the graduate level. In addition to overall education, it’s also important to look at how well cities promote educational equality when it comes to race and gender."

So how did your area fare in the study? Here's a breakdown:

Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown is eighth most educated metro area

With a score of 78.12 out of 100, the metro area including Austin, Round Rock and Georgetown ranked eighth in educated population. It ranked sixth in the quality of education and attainment gap and 11th in educational attainment.

Education rankings: Texas metro areas

Other Texas metro areas did not perform as well in the study. Here's the WalletHub analysis for all Texas metro areas included in the study:

Overall Rank	Metro Area	Total Score	Educational Attainment Rank	Quality of Education & Attainment Gap Rank
8	Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown	78.12	11	6
72	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington	54.92	73	67
84	Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land	52.85	97	16
103	San Antonio-New Braunfels	48.69	110	29
120	Killeen-Temple	42.32	120	116
136	El Paso	32.80	140	38
141	Corpus Christi	29.17	139	131
143	Beaumont-Port Arthur	27.35	144	83
148	Brownsville-Harlington	12.29	149	91
149	McAllen-Edinburg-Mission	10.46	150	80

Table by Alexis Simmerman/American-Statesman | Data by WalletHub