Gray County

Began 8th grade in 2008

272 students

Graduated from high school

192 (70.6%)

Statewide: 78.2%

Enrolled in college

124 (45.6%)

Statewide: 53.9%

Graduated from college

54 (19.9%)

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 272 students in Gray County who began 8th grade in 2008, 19.9 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.

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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, 2008

Ethnicity Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Black N/A N/A N/A N/A
Hispanic 86 58 29 10
White 173 125 88 42
Other 13 9 7 2
Total 272 192 124 54

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, 2008

Gender Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Female 136 101 71 29
Male 136 91 53 25
Total 272 192 124 54

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, 2008

Economic status Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Disadvantaged 138 81 40 8
Not disadvantaged 134 111 84 46
Total 272 192 124 54