Lamar County
Began 8th grade in 2008
696 students
Graduated from high school
544 (78.2%)
Statewide: 78.2%
Enrolled in college
424 (60.9%)
Statewide: 53.9%
Graduated from college
186 (26.7%)
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 696 students in Lamar County who began 8th grade in 2008, 26.7 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 2008 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 | 141 | 108 | 79 | 21 |
Hispanic | 47 | 37 | 20 | 5 |
White | 487 | 382 | 314 | 154 |
Other | 21 | 17 | 11 | 6 |
Total | 696 | 544 | 424 | 186 |
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 | 329 | 262 | 218 | 97 |
Male | 367 | 282 | 206 | 89 |
Total | 696 | 544 | 424 | 186 |
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 | 339 | 231 | 171 | 53 |
Not disadvantaged | 357 | 313 | 253 | 133 |
Total | 696 | 544 | 424 | 186 |