I think that NM's sparse population is the reason this stratification of
class is so visible.
//Joe
***
90.1% of 16-17 year olds in New Mexico are enrolled in public or private
schools.
64.1% of 18-19 year olds in New Mexico are enrolled in public or private
schools.
10.8% of 16-19 year old New Mexicans drop out of high school.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education
Statistics,
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs98/98018/tab3.xls
25% of New Mexico's population age 25 and older lack a high school
diploma or the equivalent.
***
2000 Census Data:
Total population: 1,819,046
Population > 16: 1,369,176
Pop. > 16 employed: 763,116
Pop. not in work force: 534,544
Pop. with Graduate/Professional Degree: 111,777
***
The poverty rate for New Mexico in the years 1996-1998 was 22.4%
compared to the national average of 13.2%. New Mexico has one of the
highest rates in the country.
***
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics"
- Disraeli
Locked
