Hidalgo County

Began 8th grade in 2011

15,055 students

Graduated from high school

12,642 (84.0%)

Statewide: 81.1%

Enrolled in college

7,896 (52.4%)

Statewide: 51.8%

Graduated from college

3,248 (21.6%)

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 15,055 students in Hidalgo County who began 8th grade in 2011, 21.6 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 34 26 19 5
Hispanic 14,638 12,295 7,634 3,099
White 283 236 178 107
Other 100 85 65 37
Total 15,055 12,642 7,896 3,248

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 7,358 6,330 4,182 1,963
Male 7,697 6,312 3,714 1,285
Total 15,055 12,642 7,896 3,248

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 12,750 10,536 6,197 2,367
Not disadvantaged 2,305 2,106 1,699 881
Total 15,055 12,642 7,896 3,248