Harris County

Began 8th grade in 2007

54,020 students

Graduated from high school

40,986 (75.9%)

Statewide: 78.2%

Enrolled in college

28,319 (52.4%)

Statewide: 53.9%

Graduated from college

11,313 (20.9%)

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 54,020 students in Harris County who began 8th grade in 2007, 20.9 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 2007 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, 2007

Ethnicity Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Black 12,395 8,838 6,707 1,689
Hispanic 25,380 18,529 11,060 3,935
White 13,514 11,226 8,643 4,478
Other 2,731 2,393 1,909 1,211
Total 54,020 40,986 28,319 11,313

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, 2007

Gender Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Female 26,228 20,629 15,083 6,612
Male 27,792 20,357 13,236 4,701
Total 54,020 40,986 28,319 11,313

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, 2007

Economic status Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Disadvantaged 30,363 21,362 13,252 3,993
Not disadvantaged 23,657 19,624 15,067 7,320
Total 54,020 40,986 28,319 11,313