41
Higher levels of education directly produce
healthier behaviors and better jobs and income
outcomes (Sanborn 2012). Education attainment
is critical to economic, civil, and personal health
viability. School enrollment (5–19 years) was
94.3% for the Houston metro in 2016. This is
slightly above the national average of 94.1% but
below the aspirational 2030 target of 100%. The
San Jose and San Francisco metros in California
and the Madison, Wisconsin metro all tied for the
highest score on this indicator with 96% of
5–19-year-olds enrolled in school. Houston ranks
40th in the country on this indicator.
High school dropouts in the Houston metro
were 17.6% in 2016. This is above the national
average of 12.1% and above the 2030 SDG target
of universal secondary education (0% dropouts).
The Madison, Wisconsin metro had the lowest
score on this indicator with a high school dropout
rate of 5.2%. Houston ranks 92nd in the country
on this indicator.
Preschool enrollment was 43.8% in Houston
in 2016. This is below the national average of
47.3% and below the aspirational 2030 SDG target of 100% preschool enrollment. The
Bridgeport, Connecticut metro had the highest
preschool enrollment with 70.5 kids aged 3–4 in
school. Houston ranks 63rd in the country on this
indicator.
The Houston metro had 31.3 persons with
undergraduate degrees or higher in 2016. This is
very slightly below the national average of 31.5%
and below the 2030 SDG target of 48.7%. The
metro with the highest undergraduate degree rate
or higher was the Washington DC metro, with
49.4%, which is higher that the global target for
2030 of 48.7%. Houston ranks 47th in the country on this indicator.
4.4.5 SDG5: Gender Equality
SDG5
Data
N
Minimum
Maximum
Mean
Houston
Earnings gap
%
100
16.1
56.0
28.1
27.8
Rapes
1/100000
94
7.2
123.8
42.7
39.9
Women businesses
%
100
29.9
46.3
36.2
39.3
Source: (Espey et al. 2018). Earnings gap 2016 data. Rapes 2016 data. Women owned businesses 2012 data
The gender wage gap is defined as the percentage
difference between the median wage of men and
women. The Houston metro had a 27.8% wage
gap in 2016. This is a better performance than the
national average of 28.1%. The aspirational 2030
target is set at a 0% wage gap. The Las Vegas,
Nevada metro had the best performance in the
country in 2016 with a 16.1% wage gap. Houston
ranks 54th in the country on this indicator.
The reported rapes per 100,000 women was
39.9 in 2016. This is a lower number than the
national average of 42.7. The best performing
metro on this indicator was Kansas City with 7.2
rapes per every 100,000 people. Houston ranks
50th in the country on this indicator.
The percentage of women-owned businesses
in the Houston metro was 39.3% in 2012. This is
above the national average of 36.2%. The
Memphis metro had the highest percentage of
women-owned businesses with 46.3%. The aspirational 2030 target is 50% of all businesses to be
owned by women. Houston ranks 15th in the
country on this indicator.
4 The Idea of Sustainability to Evaluate Growth and Development in the Houston Region
Higher levels of education directly produce
healthier behaviors and better jobs and income
outcomes (Sanborn 2012). Education attainment
is critical to economic, civil, and personal health
viability. School enrollment (5–19 years) was
94.3% for the Houston metro in 2016. This is
slightly above the national average of 94.1% but
below the aspirational 2030 target of 100%. The
San Jose and San Francisco metros in California
and the Madison, Wisconsin metro all tied for the
highest score on this indicator with 96% of
5–19-year-olds enrolled in school. Houston ranks
40th in the country on this indicator.
High school dropouts in the Houston metro
were 17.6% in 2016. This is above the national
average of 12.1% and above the 2030 SDG target
of universal secondary education (0% dropouts).
The Madison, Wisconsin metro had the lowest
score on this indicator with a high school dropout
rate of 5.2%. Houston ranks 92nd in the country
on this indicator.
Preschool enrollment was 43.8% in Houston
in 2016. This is below the national average of
47.3% and below the aspirational 2030 SDG target of 100% preschool enrollment. The
Bridgeport, Connecticut metro had the highest
preschool enrollment with 70.5 kids aged 3–4 in
school. Houston ranks 63rd in the country on this
indicator.
The Houston metro had 31.3 persons with
undergraduate degrees or higher in 2016. This is
very slightly below the national average of 31.5%
and below the 2030 SDG target of 48.7%. The
metro with the highest undergraduate degree rate
or higher was the Washington DC metro, with
49.4%, which is higher that the global target for
2030 of 48.7%. Houston ranks 47th in the country on this indicator.
4.4.5 SDG5: Gender Equality
SDG5
Data
N
Minimum
Maximum
Mean
Houston
Earnings gap
%
100
16.1
56.0
28.1
27.8
Rapes
1/100000
94
7.2
123.8
42.7
39.9
Women businesses
%
100
29.9
46.3
36.2
39.3
Source: (Espey et al. 2018). Earnings gap 2016 data. Rapes 2016 data. Women owned businesses 2012 data
The gender wage gap is defined as the percentage
difference between the median wage of men and
women. The Houston metro had a 27.8% wage
gap in 2016. This is a better performance than the
national average of 28.1%. The aspirational 2030
target is set at a 0% wage gap. The Las Vegas,
Nevada metro had the best performance in the
country in 2016 with a 16.1% wage gap. Houston
ranks 54th in the country on this indicator.
The reported rapes per 100,000 women was
39.9 in 2016. This is a lower number than the
national average of 42.7. The best performing
metro on this indicator was Kansas City with 7.2
rapes per every 100,000 people. Houston ranks
50th in the country on this indicator.
The percentage of women-owned businesses
in the Houston metro was 39.3% in 2012. This is
above the national average of 36.2%. The
Memphis metro had the highest percentage of
women-owned businesses with 46.3%. The aspirational 2030 target is 50% of all businesses to be
owned by women. Houston ranks 15th in the
country on this indicator.
4 The Idea of Sustainability to Evaluate Growth and Development in the Houston Region