If you live in one of the well-educated neighborhoods of Puget Sound, you might wonder what the fuss is about. All the kids in the neighborhood are on a college track. Just where are all these seniors who are seeing their education come to an end upon graduation?
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Why Don’t More Washington Kids Go to College?
Going out-of-state has not been much of a solution to the problem of too few seats in Washington’s public and private higher education network. Washington has among the lowest rates of college enrollment by recent high school graduates.
Prisons and Jails—The Local View
About 40 percent of the people behind bars in Washington State are housed in county jails. These people might be in jail for only a day or two before posting bail or may be serving a sentence of up to one year.
Prisons and Incarceration Rates
Washington’s incarceration rate, at about 26 prisoners per 10,000 population, is on the low end nationally. Oklahoma, the state with the highest rate, incarcerates people in their state system at 2.7 times the rate of Washington.
Washington’s Undersized Higher Ed System
Washington State is getting a really good deal: get other taxpayers and families to pay for the educations that employers in Washington will benefit from.