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.
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 | 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.
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.
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 |