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.
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 | 12,395 | 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.
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.
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 |