Denton County

Began 8th grade in 2006

7,407 students

Graduated from high school

6,036 (81.5%)

Statewide: 76.3%

Enrolled in college

4,270 (57.6%)

Statewide: 53.9%

Graduated from college

1,862 (25.1%)

Statewide: 21.6%

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 over the past nine years.

Of the 7,407 students in Denton County who began 8th grade in 2006, 25.1 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 1996 is about 35 years old; one who started 8th grade in 2006 is now about 25.

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

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, 2006

Ethnicity Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Black 668 531 386 111
Hispanic 1,480 1,099 573 174
White 4,828 4,034 3,018 1,408
Other 431 372 293 169
Total 7,407 6,036 4,270 1,862

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, 2006

Gender Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Female 3,641 3,026 2,238 1,076
Male 3,766 3,010 2,032 786
Total 7,407 6,036 4,270 1,862

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, 2006

Economic status Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Disadvantaged 1,884 1,322 686 177
Not disadvantaged 5,523 4,714 3,584 1,685
Total 7,407 6,036 4,270 1,862