The Neighborhood Intel Block Analyzer empowers users to explore different Census data variables over a geographic area down to the Census Block level. This article provides metadata for the Education variables displayed.
Knowing and understanding education in your municipality is critical for federal government funding you could receive for your communities. Using the Block Analyzer can help you get a snapshot of the different educational levels in your municipality showing where you need funding or how use of funding has made an increase in your educational levels.
Education Filters:
High School Graduate (Includes Equivalency)
The High School Graduate (Includes Equivalency) pulls its data from the United States Census Bureau. It is broken down by Census Group and is updated as soon as the census bureau releases new data. High School Graduates include people whose highest degree was a high school diploma or its equivalent, people who attended college but did not receive a degree, and people who received an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or professional or doctorate degree. People who reported completing the 12th grade but not receiving a diploma are not included. Persons with a bachelor's degree or higher are those who have received a bachelor's degree from a college or university, or a master's, professional, or doctorate degree. This data includes only persons 25 years old and over. The percentages are obtained by dividing the counts of graduates by the total number of persons 25 years old and over. This is important because you want to know how many people living in your municipality are high school graduates or equivalent. The High School Graduate (Includes Equivalency) filter has a slider at the bottom of the screen that allows you to see the High School Graduate (Includes Equivalency) change throughout the years.
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Legend The legend is broken down into six different categories. The darkest green (highest percentage) shows areas in your municipality that have the most high school graduates and the lightest green (lowest percentage) shows areas in your municipality that have the lowest high school graduates, with gradient green percentages in between. |
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Example The map to the right is a screenshot of Battle Creek MI. We can see areas in Battle Creek that have higher graduation percentages than other areas, at a quick glance. |
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Associate's Degree
The associate’s degree filter pulls its data from the United States Census. It is broken down by Census Group and is updated as soon as the census bureau releases new data. An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after a course of post-secondary study lasting two to three years. It is a level of qualification above a high school diploma, GED, or matriculation, and below a bachelor's degree. In the Current Population Survey, respondents are asked to categorize their associate’s degree as either occupational or academic. If the highest degree attained was an associate's degree in a field that prepares a person for a specific occupation, then educational attainment is classified as "associate's degree - occupational." Such coursework may, but need not, be creditable towards a bachelor's degree. If the highest degree attained was an associate’s degree primarily in the arts and sciences and is transferable to a bachelor’s degree, then educational attainment is classified as "associate's degree - academic.", both are counted as an associate degree in the percentages. This is important because you want to know how many people living in your municipality have up to an associate degree. The associate’s degree filter has a slider at the bottom of the screen that allows you to see the associate’s degree change throughout the years.
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Legend The legend is broken down into six different categories. The darkest purple (highest percentage) shows areas in your municipality that have the highest percentage of people who have earned an associate degree and the lightest purple (lowest percentage) shows areas in your municipality that have the lowest percentage of people that have earned an associate’s degree, with gradient purple percentages in between. |
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Example The map to the right is a screenshot of Kalamazoo MI. We can see the areas in Kalamazoo where people have a higher associate’s degree percentage than other areas, at a quick glance. |
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Bachelor’s Degree
The bachelor’s degree filter pulls its data from the United States Census Bureau. It is broken down by Census Group and is updated as soon as the census bureau releases new data. Data on the field of bachelor’s degree were derived from answers to Question 12 in the 2020 American Community Survey (ACS). This question was asked only to persons with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Eligible respondents were asked to list the specific major(s) of any bachelor’s degree received. This question does not ask for the field of any other type of degree earned (such as master’s or doctorate). This is important because you want to know how many people living in your municipality have a bachelor degree. The bachelor’s degree filter has a slider at the bottom of the screen that allows you to see the bachelor’s degree change throughout the years.
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Legend The legend is broken down into six different categories. The darkest green (highest percentage) shows areas in your municipality that have the highest percentage of people who have earned a bachelor’s degree and the lightest green (lowest percentage) shows areas in your municipality that have the lowest percentage of people who have earned a bachelor’s degree, with gradient green percentages in between. |
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Example The map to the right is a screenshot of Big Rapids MI. We can see areas in Big Rapids where people have a higher bachelor’s degree percentage than other areas, at a quick glance. |
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Graduate of Professional Degree
The graduate or professional degree filter pulls its date from the United States Census Bureau. It is broken down by Census Group and is updated as soon as the census bureau releases new data. Professional degrees are degrees beyond a bachelor’s degree, including law (e.g. JD, LLB), medical (e.g. MD), veterinary (e.g. DVM) and dental degrees (e.g. DDS). The advanced degrees category includes all degrees beyond a bachelor’s degree (including master’s degrees, professional degrees, and doctorate degrees). This is important because you want to know how many people living in your municipality have advanced degrees past bachelor’s degree. The graduate or professional degree filter has a slider at the bottom of the screen that allows you to see the graduate or professional degree change throughout the years.
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Legend The legend is broken down into three categories. The darkest blue (highest percentage) shows areas in your municipality that have the highest percentage of people who have earned an advanced degree and the lightest blue (lowest percentage) shows areas in your municipality that have the lowest percentage of people who have earned an advanced degree, with a gradient blue percentage in between. |
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Examples The map to the right is of Okemos MI and part of East Lansing MI. We can see areas in both communities where people have a higher advanced degree percentage than other areas, at a quick glance. |
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Nursery School preschool (%)
The nursery school preschool % pulls its data from the United States Census Bureau. It is broken down by Census Group and is updated as soon as the census bureau releases new data. A nursery school is defined as a group or class that is organized to provide educational experiences for children during the years preceding kindergarten. It includes instruction as an important and integral phase of its program of child care. Private homes in which essentially custodial care is provided are not considered nursery schools. Children attending nursery school are classified as attending during either part of the day or the full day. Part-day attendance refers to those who attend either in the morning or in the afternoon, but not both. Full-day attendance refers to those who attend in both the morning and the afternoon. Children enrolled in Head Start programs or similar programs sponsored by local agencies to provide preschool education to young children are counted under nursery school. The nursery school preschool % breaks down the percentage of children enrolled in a nursery school. This is important because you want to know the percentage of children that are enrolled in nursery school in your municipality. The nursery school preschool % filter has a slider at the bottom of the screen that allows you to see the nursery school preschool % change throughout the years.
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Legend The legend is broken down into six different categories. The darkest green (highest percentage) shows areas in your municipality that have the highest percentage of children enrolled in nursery school and the lightest green (lowest percentage) shows areas in your municipality that have the lowest percentage of children enrolled in nursery schools, with gradient green percentages in between. |
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Example The map to the right is a screenshot of Grand Rapids MI. We can see areas in Grand Rapids where children have a higher enrollment in preschool percentage than other areas, at a quick glance. |
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Nursery School, Preschool (Count)
The Nursery School, Preschool (Count) filter pulls its data from the United States Census Bureau. It is broken down by Census Group and is updated as soon as the census bureau releases new data. A nursery school is defined as a group or class that is organized to provide educational experiences for children during the year or years preceding kindergarten. It includes instruction as an important and integral phase of its program of child care. Private homes in which essentially custodial care is provided are not considered nursery schools. Children attending nursery school are classified as attending during either part of the day or the full day. Part-day attendance refers to those who attend either in the morning or in the afternoon, but not both. Full-day attendance refers to those who attend in both the morning and the afternoon. Children enrolled in Head Start programs or similar programs sponsored by local agencies to provide preschool education to young children are counted under nursery school. The nursery school preschool count breaks down the number of children enrolled in a nursery school. This is important because you want to know the actual number of children enrolled in nursery school. The nursery school preschool count filter has a slider at the bottom of the screen that allows you to see the nursery school preschool count change throughout the years.
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Legend The legend is broken down into four different categories. The darkest blue(highest number) shows areas in your municipality that have the most children enrolled in nursery school and the lightest blue (lowest number) shows areas in your municipality that have the least children enrolled in nursery school with gradient blue ranges in between. |
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Example The map to the right is a screenshot of Ann Arbor MI. We can see areas in Ann Arbor where children have a higher enrollment count in preschool than other areas, at a quick glance. |
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