Description

EDUCPR indicates the person's educational attainment in Puerto Rico in terms of the level of schooling completed.

Comparability — General

Puerto Rico has 12 years of basic education, which include primary, middle, and high school (secondary), following a model similar to the U.S.

Tertiary education is also comparable to the U.S., offering associate (2 years), bachelor's (4 years), master's, professional, and doctoral degrees.

In 1970 and 1980 the variable distinguishes individually the highest grade/year completed in elementary, secondary, and tertiary education. Persons graduated from high school are not explicitly identified, as in other samples; instead some people who have not completed 1st year of college are recoded as high school graduates and the rest of them appear to be in the 12th grade category.

In 1990, 2000, and 2005 the variable distinguishes only grouped categories for 1st-4th grade and 5th-8th grade, and individually each grade between 9th and 12th, as well as high school graduates (or persons holding a GED). In 2010-2020, the variable identifies individually each of the twelve grades of basic education and distinguishes persons who received a regular high school diploma from those holding a GED or alternative credential. The 1990-2020 samples do not report number of years of tertiary education completed but do distinguish between persons with some college but no degree and persons holding a degree.

In 2005-2020, the census instructions explicitly indicate that professional degrees do not include certificates, diplomas or degrees for training in specific trades (such as computer and electronics technology, auto repairing, etc.) and other fields at vocational, technical, or business schools. No detail regarding the inclusion of vocational or technical education is available for the remaining samples.

Universe

Availability

• Puerto Rico: 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020