Harris County

Began 8th grade in 2008

55,903 students

Graduated from high school

42,982 (76.9%)

Statewide: 78.8%

Enrolled in college

28,985 (51.8%)

Statewide: 53.1%

Graduated from college

12,111 (21.7%)

Statewide: 23.2%

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 2008.

Of the 55,903 students in Harris County who began 8th grade in 2008, 21.7 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 2008 is now about 28.

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 12,465 9,019 6,639 1,737
Hispanic 27,127 20,275 11,770 4,393
White 13,398 11,096 8,591 4,684
Other 2,913 2,592 1,985 1,297
Total 55,903 42,982 28,985 12,111

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 27,428 21,713 15,528 7,092
Male 28,475 21,269 13,457 5,019
Total 55,903 42,982 28,985 12,111

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 33,504 24,211 14,517 4,668
Not disadvantaged 22,399 18,771 14,468 7,443
Total 55,903 42,982 28,985 12,111