Births to Females with Less than 12 Years of Education

Measure

Percent of births to Hall County residents who were not high school graduates.

Why is this indicator important?

Educational attainment of mothers has been linked to the school readiness skills of young children and to enrollment in early learning programs.

Mothers who have children at a very young age often fail to complete their education, putting themselves and their children at risk for poverty.

How are we doing in Hall County?

• The percent of babies born to mothers with less than a 12th grade education in Hall County is almost double the state percent. 
  
• While Georgia numbers have remained steady over the last 15 years, Hall County numbers are increasing or holding steady. 
  
• This number varies greatly when looked at by race/ethnicity, with the Hispanic/Latino rate over three times higher than non-Hispanic/Latinos.
  
  

What does research tell us we can do to improve this indicator?

• Educate the community about the connection between early childbearing and poverty

• Offer community-based programs to teach parents about resources available for completing their education

• Intensify efforts to educate women about the importance of reading to children and brain development research