Jim Wells County
Began 8th grade in 2008
686 students
Graduated from high school
495 (72.2%)
Statewide: 78.8%
Enrolled in college
337 (49.1%)
Statewide: 53.1%
Graduated from college
131 (19.1%)
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 686 students in Jim Wells County who began 8th grade in 2008, 19.1 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.
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 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Hispanic | 577 | 397 | 272 | 99 |
White | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Other | 109 | 98 | 65 | 32 |
Total | 686 | 495 | 337 | 131 |
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 | 326 | 238 | 185 | 88 |
Male | 360 | 257 | 152 | 43 |
Total | 686 | 495 | 337 | 131 |
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 | 420 | 279 | 165 | 51 |
Not disadvantaged | 266 | 216 | 172 | 80 |
Total | 686 | 495 | 337 | 131 |