Montgomery County
Began 8th grade in 2011
6,826 students
Graduated from high school
5,447 (79.8%)
Statewide: 81.1%
Enrolled in college
3,376 (49.5%)
Statewide: 51.8%
Graduated from college
1,501 (22.0%)
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 6,826 students in Montgomery County who began 8th grade in 2011, 22.0 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 2011 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 | 376 | 290 | 191 | 51 |
| Hispanic | 2,098 | 1,670 | 839 | 302 |
| White | 4,011 | 3,218 | 2,178 | 1,063 |
| Other | 341 | 269 | 168 | 85 |
| Total | 6,826 | 5,447 | 3,376 | 1,501 |
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 | 3,371 | 2,761 | 1,839 | 908 |
| Male | 3,455 | 2,686 | 1,537 | 593 |
| Total | 6,826 | 5,447 | 3,376 | 1,501 |
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 | 2,681 | 1,985 | 943 | 260 |
| Not disadvantaged | 4,145 | 3,462 | 2,433 | 1,241 |
| Total | 6,826 | 5,447 | 3,376 | 1,501 |