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When John Hickenlooper takes office as governor next week, he will also take the reins of the Education Commission of the States, an influential national education group, reports The Associated Press. And it seems Hick will have his hands full with education no matter which hat he wears. New census data analyzed by Education News Colorado indicates that adult education achievement levels and factors such as poverty can be a problem in some school districts. For instance, in Adams 14, around 17 percent of adults have less than a ninth-grade education, and about 40 percent over the age of 25 don’t have a high school diploma. That’s a contrast to the Douglas County School District, where around 17 percent of adults hold advanced degrees and more than half of adult residents graduated from a college or university.
Student success could be affected by parents’ previous academic performance, as studies show that the more their parents achieved scholastically, the better students tend to do, as well. “Yes, we believe it impacts student achievement,” says John Albright, communications director for Adams 14. How does your local school district stack up? Click here to find out.