Galveston County
Began 8th grade in 2008
5,533 students
Graduated from high school
4,577 (82.7%)
Statewide: 78.2%
Enrolled in college
3,514 (63.5%)
Statewide: 53.9%
Graduated from college
1,796 (32.5%)
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 5,533 students in Galveston County who began 8th grade in 2008, 32.5 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 1997 is about 35 years old; one who started 8th grade in 2008 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 | 783 | 614 | 463 | 120 |
Hispanic | 1,355 | 1,084 | 716 | 327 |
White | 3,021 | 2,539 | 2,052 | 1,154 |
Other | 374 | 340 | 283 | 195 |
Unknown | 11 | 11 | 7 | 1 |
Total | 5,533 | 4,577 | 3,514 | 1,796 |
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 | 2,710 | 2,284 | 1,849 | 1,007 |
Male | 2,823 | 2,293 | 1,665 | 789 |
Total | 5,533 | 4,577 | 3,514 | 1,796 |
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 | 1,919 | 1,420 | 908 | 320 |
Not disadvantaged | 3,614 | 3,157 | 2,606 | 1,476 |
Total | 5,533 | 4,577 | 3,514 | 1,796 |