Hidalgo County

Began 8th grade in 2008

13,735 students

Graduated from high school

11,033 (80.3%)

Statewide: 78.8%

Enrolled in college

7,467 (54.4%)

Statewide: 53.1%

Graduated from college

3,165 (23.0%)

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 13,735 students in Hidalgo County who began 8th grade in 2008, 23.0 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.

Click or tap the map to enable panning and zooming.

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 35 27 19 8
Hispanic 13,319 10,687 7,200 3,024
White 300 251 196 98
Other 81 68 52 35
Total 13,735 11,033 7,467 3,165

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 6,751 5,501 3,906 1,828
Male 6,984 5,532 3,561 1,337
Total 13,735 11,033 7,467 3,165

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 11,659 9,192 5,905 2,344
Not disadvantaged 2,076 1,841 1,562 821
Total 13,735 11,033 7,467 3,165