Sustainable Communities Index

Education

Summary

Education indicators in the SCI measure the distribution, sufficiency, and quality of public education and child care facilities. Evidence shows that:

• Educational outcomes positively associated with lifetime earnings, positive health behaviors, and prolonged life expectancy.
• When schools are located closer to home, more children walk and/or bicycle to school and vehicle pollution emissions fall.
• High quality child care positively affects childhood growth, physical development, and physical health, cognitive, behavioral and school outcomes.

Objectives & Indicators

Ed.1. Assure affordable and high quality child care for all neighborhoods

Ed.1.a. Child care capacity

Ed.1.b. Child care subsidies

Ed.1.c. Child care costs

Ed.2. Assure accessible and high quality educational facilities

Ed.2.a. Elementary School Score

Ed.2.b. School choice

Ed.2.c. School academic performance

Ed.2.d. School gardens

Ed.2.e. School graduation rates

Ed.2.f. Public school participation