Houston County

Began 8th grade in 2011

263 students

Graduated from high school

218 (82.9%)

Statewide: 81.1%

Enrolled in college

133 (50.6%)

Statewide: 51.8%

Graduated from college

54 (20.5%)

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 263 students in Houston County who began 8th grade in 2011, 20.5 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 40 years old; one who started 8th grade in 2011 is now about 26.

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 76 64 36 8
Hispanic N/A N/A N/A N/A
White 141 114 75 38
Other 46 40 22 8
Total 263 218 133 54

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 129 114 85 35
Male 134 104 48 19
Total 263 218 133 54

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 164 131 67 18
Not disadvantaged 99 87 66 36
Total 263 218 133 54