Bell County

Began 8th grade in 2011

4,529 students

Graduated from high school

3,291 (72.7%)

Statewide: 81.1%

Enrolled in college

2,187 (48.3%)

Statewide: 51.8%

Graduated from college

815 (18.0%)

Statewide: 22.0%

Each year, approximately 300,000 students begin eighth grade in a Texas public school. National employment and earnings statistics suggest that these students will have materially better prospects as adults if they finish high school and enroll in and complete a post-secondary certificate or degree program. Using data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Education Agency, the Tribune is providing a look into the outcomes of students who started eighth grade in a Texas public school from 1997 to 2011.

Of the 4,529 students in Bell County who began 8th grade in 2011, 18.0 percent received a certificate or degree from a Texas college or university within six years of their anticipated high school graduation date. For context, a 13-year-old student who started 8th grade in 1997 is about 40 years old; one who started 8th grade in 2011 is now about 26.

We have broken down these numbers by ethnicity, gender and economic status.

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Ethnicity

A breakdown, by ethnicity, of outcomes for cohorts of students who attended eighth grade in a Texas public school. You can see who graduated from high school, who enrolled in higher education and who completed a certificate or degree.

Outcome of 8th grade class by ethnicity, 2011

Ethnicity Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Black 1,207 866 604 142
Hispanic 1,264 928 539 175
White 1,671 1,230 863 416
Other 387 267 181 82
Unknown 26 19 7 N/A
Total 4,529 3,291 2,187 815

Gender

A breakdown, by gender, of outcomes for cohorts of students who attended eighth grade in a Texas public school. You can see who graduated from high school, who enrolled in higher education and who completed a certificate or degree.

Outcome of 8th grade class by gender, 2011

Gender Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Female 2,198 1,648 1,192 476
Male 2,331 1,643 995 339
Total 4,529 3,291 2,187 815

Economic status

A breakdown, by economic status, of outcomes for cohorts of students who attended eighth grade in a Texas public school. You can see who graduated from high school, who enrolled in higher education and who completed a certificate or degree.

Outcome of 8th grade class by economic status, 2011

Economic status Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Disadvantaged 2,324 1,559 875 209
Not disadvantaged 2,205 1,732 1,312 606
Total 4,529 3,291 2,187 815