Harris County

Began 8th grade in 2011

58,904 students

Graduated from high school

47,239 (80.2%)

Statewide: 81.1%

Enrolled in college

29,886 (50.7%)

Statewide: 51.8%

Graduated from college

12,058 (20.5%)

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 58,904 students in Harris County who began 8th grade in 2011, 20.5 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 39 years old; one who started 8th grade in 2011 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, 2011

Ethnicity Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Black 12,118 9,190 6,171 1,593
Hispanic 30,309 24,226 13,636 4,923
White 12,399 10,258 7,397 3,952
Other 4,078 3,565 2,682 1,590
Total 58,904 47,239 29,886 12,058

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 28,616 23,696 16,065 7,226
Male 30,288 23,543 13,821 4,832
Total 58,904 47,239 29,886 12,058

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 36,953 28,502 16,303 5,062
Not disadvantaged 21,951 18,737 13,583 6,996
Total 58,904 47,239 29,886 12,058