Arizona Indicators' inaugural statewide report card, Arizona Directions, tackles four critical issues that display an urgent need for new strategies and solutions: job creation, education, health and infrastructure. By examining our status, trajectories and potential responses in each of these areas, this report seeks to stimulate a candid assessment of our strengths and weaknesses, and of the policy options that will enable Arizona to prosper. The report also includes new public opinion data from the Merrill/Morrison Institute Poll.
Featured Indicators Data
Arizona Directions: Fostering Data-Driven Dialogue in Public Policy
How Does Metro Phoenix Stack Up?
An interactive Arizona Indicators city comparator tool shows how the Phoenix economy is emerging from the recession relative to 9 peer cities and the nation. The Arizona Indicators tool, created in partnership with The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, compares select cities on job growth, GDP, income, housing affordability, venture capital, and educational attainment. The data show that Phoenix ranks No. 1 in housing affordability and in August had the second-highest job growth behind Seattle, compared with a year earlier. But it ranks at or near the bottom for venture capital, university graduates and per capita income.
Arizona Student Achievement Rises, but Falls Short of the National Average
In 2011 Arizona students made real progress on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), an exam that enables meaningful comparisons across states. For example, the percent of Arizona 4th graders who scored “at or above proficient” on the math assessment rose from 28% in 2009 to 34% in 2011. Eighth graders made gains on the math assessment as well, with those “at or above proficient” rising 2 percentage points. Students at both grade levels demonstrated slight improvement on the reading assessment, but student achievement is still too low. Only 26% of Arizona 4th graders are “at or above proficient” in reading.
Phoenix and Tucson are Middle of the Pack for Residents’ Average Credit Scores
Despite persistently high unemployment and foreclosure rates, Phoenix and Tucson are not among the 10 cities with the lowest average credit scores, according to Experian’s second annual State of Credit map. In Phoenix, the average credit score is 733 versus 748 in Tucson. Interestingly, 8 of the 10 cities with the highest average credit scores are in the Midwest, and 8 of the 10 cities with the lowest scores are in the South. Texas is noteworthy for having 4 cities among the bottom 10.
Fewer Foster Home Spaces, but More Children in Need
The number of licensed foster homes and the number of available foster spaces in Arizona has been decreasing, even as the number of children in out-of-home care continues to rise. Some experts believe the aftermath of the Great Recession and economic uncertainty are dissuading families from providing foster care or considering adoption. Others point to SB1188, which gives preference to married, heterosexual couples for foster placement and adoption, saying it could discourage single adults or same-sex couples from getting certified. As of March 2011, 10,707 Arizona children were living in out-of-home care.
Maricopa County Plagued by High Vacancy Rate
New census data show that nearly 14 percent of Maricopa County homes were vacant in 2010. That is more than 227,696 empty homes, condominiums, and apartments -- a larger number than all housing units in Tucson.
Among the most populous counties in the nation, Maricopa County tops the list for both the vacancy rate and the number of empty units. In Metro Phoenix, the vacancy rate increased 4.5 percent since 2000. Excess construction during the housing boom is a major contributing factor.
Recent Publications
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Policy Points 3 6
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 -
Special Report
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 -
Policy Points 3 5
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Indicator Trends
AZ Youth Face Tough Odds
According to the national Kids Count program, Arizona still compares unfavorably on key indicators of child well-being, ranking 37th best overall.
Losing Ground:
- Children in poverty (23%)
- Children affected by foreclosure since 2007 (8%)
- Children in single-parent families (37%)
Making Progress:
- Births to teens ages 15-19, rate per 1,000 (56)
- Four year high school graduation rate (76%)
- Youth (15-19) deaths related to firearms, rate per 100,000 (11)
Collaborations
Brookings Mountain West
Morrison Institute for Public Policy and Brookings Institution are now partners in Brookings Mountain West, a collaboration of Brookings Institution and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas that conducts research on economic growth, demographic change, infrastructure improvement, environmental impact, alternative energy, and real estate investment in the Intermountain West. Check out the latest issue of Mountain Monitor.
Demographics
Check out Population Basics, an interactive tool that allows you to explore demographic data about Arizona, our 15 counties, and metro Phoenix and Tucson. If you prefer raw data, explore the demographics section of our Google Spreadsheets collection:
Explore Arizona Demographics Data in Google Spreadsheets2010 Census Data
Quick Poll
Math and Science Education Poll
Do you think the amount of emphasis that Arizona public schools place on teaching math and science is about right, too much, or not enough?
