Fort Bend County
Began 8th grade in 2007
7,345 students
Graduated from high school
5,920 (80.6%)
Statewide: 78.2%
Enrolled in college
4,652 (63.3%)
Statewide: 53.9%
Graduated from college
2,311 (31.5%)
Statewide: 22.8%
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 7,345 students in Fort Bend County who began 8th grade in 2007, 31.5 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 2007 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.
| Ethnicity | Class size | Graduated high school | Enrolled in college | Graduated from college |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 2,199 | 1,736 | 1,429 | 471 |
| Hispanic | 1,990 | 1,431 | 905 | 340 |
| White | 1,932 | 1,652 | 1,399 | 856 |
| Other | 1,224 | 1,101 | 919 | 644 |
| Total | 7,345 | 5,920 | 4,652 | 2,311 |
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.
| Gender | Class size | Graduated high school | Enrolled in college | Graduated from college |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 3,536 | 2,920 | 2,392 | 1,307 |
| Male | 3,809 | 3,000 | 2,260 | 1,004 |
| Total | 7,345 | 5,920 | 4,652 | 2,311 |
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.
| Economic status | Class size | Graduated high school | Enrolled in college | Graduated from college |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disadvantaged | 2,397 | 1,714 | 1,170 | 407 |
| Not disadvantaged | 4,948 | 4,206 | 3,482 | 1,904 |
| Total | 7,345 | 5,920 | 4,652 | 2,311 |