EDUCATION ACCESS AND QUALITY
Education is one of the strongest predictors of health and longevity. From early childhood to adulthood, access to quality education shapes opportunities, career paths, and overall well-being. People with higher education levels tend to live longer, healthier lives—and their children do, too. Education shapes career opportunities, income, and workforce conditions. It also impacts access to essential resources like health insurance, stable housing, and nutritious food—all of which directly impact life expectancy. Just as importantly, education empowers individuals with knowledge and confidence to navigate life’s challenges, leading to better overall health and stronger communities. This is why improving education is a priority in the Indy Health District.
Educational Attainment among Adults (age 25+)
Educational attainment among adults 25 years and older indicates the highest level of education completed. Because health and length of life rise in step with education level, those who do not complete high school are most at risk of poor health and shortened lives. In general, the rate of adults 25 and older without a high school diploma or GED has been decreasing over time (as shown in the line chart below).
At the time of the formation of the Indy Health District, 7% of residents 25 years and older had no high school diploma or GED, which is lower (better) than Marion County and the state. The goal of the District is to decrease the percentage of the population lacking a high school diploma or GED to 5%.
Note: to see additional data about this metric, click the arrow (< >) on the image below. For more details, hover your cursor or click on points within the image.
DID YOU KNOW?
The figure shows the percent of the population that has specific levels of education—ranging from no high school diploma or GED to a Bachelor’s degree or higher—within the district compared to Marion County. Ensuring that everyone has a solid foundation for the employment that they want is important. While college is not for everyone, understanding the role a post-secondary education plays in overall well-being and life expectancy may be helpful when making choices.
4-Year Public High School Graduation Rate (age 25+)
Completing high school is a key milestone that improves future life opportunities and health. The average four-year graduation rate reported by public schools located in or closest to the Indy Health District is an important indication of the quality of education available to district students. While students can technically attend public schools outside of the area in which they live, ensuring access to quality schools for the residents of the district is crucial.
The goal of the Indy Health District is to maintain a 4-year public high school graduation rate that is better than the county and state.
The four-year high school graduation rate for public schools located within or near the district has been consistently higher than the county-wide rate, and it has improved for the past 3 years. In 2024, the district’s public high school graduation rate at 92.4% also surpassed the graduation rate for Indiana public schools on the whole.
Educational Opportunity among Youth (age <25)
This metric reflects educational access and quality across the age spectrum from early childhood through college available to children and youth (age < 25) living in the Indy Health District. As part of the Child Opportunity Index (see methods note below), educational opportunities in the census tracts of the district are rated on a scale relative to other tracts of the Indianapolis Metro area: Very Low, Low, Moderate, High, and Very High. We report the percentage of the district’s youth population (<age 25) who are living in a tract that has low or very low educational opportunity.
The goal of the Indy Health District is to ensure that the percentage of youth living in tracts of low/very low educational opportunity decline over time to zero.
NOTE ON METHODS: The Child Opportunity Index (COI) 3.0. considers 12 measures when rating educational opportunity in an area. These include: private and public pre-K enrollment, elementary school reading and math test scores (also adjusted for poverty) and test-score growth, elementary school poverty rates, advanced placement course enrollment in high school, high school graduation rate, college enrollment in nearby institutions, adult educational attainment, density of child enrichment-related non-profits, and teacher experience. For more information about these measures and how the rating is conducted, see COI 3.0 Technical Documentation by Noelke, McArdle, DeVoe, Leonardos, Lu, Ressler, and Acevedo-Garcia, 2024.
The categorical Education Domain Rating used is a small part of the larger 44-item Child Opportunity Index 3.0, developed by a team at Boston University School of Social Work, where all measures were selected for their relationship to child well-being. The full index with visualizations and datasets is available at https://www.diversitydatakids.org/child-opportunity-index.
DID YOU KNOW?
The rate of return on investment in high-quality childcare and pre-K programs is remarkably high—at least 4-9 times the return on investment per dollar. However, economists estimate this return on investment to be more like 14 times the return on each dollar invested because of spillover benefits in siblings and/or the child’s future children. (Learn More)
High-Quality Childcare Capacity
Childcare is an essential resource for working families that supports overall well-being and economic stability. Parents need reliable, accessible childcare to pursue careers or continue their education. At the same time, children thrive in safe, high-quality learning environments that nurture their growth. Early childhood is a crucial stage where strong educational foundations can shape future opportunities and lifelong health. Investing in quality childcare strengthens families, supports the workforce, and builds healthier communities for generations to come.
The goal of the Indy Health District is to support the addition of high-quality childcare seats in the District.
As of 2024 data, the district has a total of 545 childcare seats. The State lists childcare facilities as childcare centers, registered ministries, or licensed childcare homes (commonly referred to as ‘in-home daycares’). In-home daycares account for about 15% of the district’s childcare capacity. The figure to the left shows the total number of childcare seats in facilities that have been rated as “high-quality,” which is defined as Paths to Quality Levels 3 and 4. Note that not every facility is rated for quality.
While the State’s Paths to Quality program is a voluntary program that intends to provide parents and caregivers a tool to use in selecting childcare that meets their needs, some childcare centers do not participate.
Paths to Quality (PTQ) ratings:
- LEVEL 0 – Not rated
- LEVEL 1 – Health and safety needs of children are met
- LEVEL 2 – Environment supports children’s learning
- LEVEL 3 – Planned curriculum guides child development and school readiness
- LEVEL 4 – National accreditation (the highest indicator of quality) is achieved
To aid families in the district in exploring childcare options, the map shows the location of each childcare facility within the district that is a licensed childcare center or registered childcare ministry with the state of Indiana. Note that in-home daycares are not shown on the map per state law (Indiana Code 12-17.2-2-1(9) restricting the public posting of locations/addresses. Each location is color-coded based on state-determined Paths to Quality Rating.
DID YOU KNOW?
The classic Perry Preschool study showed that children in high-quality programs have far better long-term outcomes in adulthood, from increased graduation rates and higher earnings to lower crime rates. Other studies have had similar results.
High-Quality Childcare Capacity, 2024
Note: Areas outlined in black represent the district.