Nueces County
Began 8th grade in 2008
4,592 students
Graduated from high school
3,553 (77.4%)
Statewide: 78.8%
Enrolled in college
2,339 (50.9%)
Statewide: 53.1%
Graduated from college
857 (18.7%)
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 4,592 students in Nueces County who began 8th grade in 2008, 18.7 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 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 | 227 | 164 | 111 | 26 |
Hispanic | 3,264 | 2,522 | 1,579 | 541 |
White | 1,021 | 808 | 607 | 265 |
Other | 80 | 59 | 42 | 25 |
Total | 4,592 | 3,553 | 2,339 | 857 |
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 | 2,150 | 1,701 | 1,238 | 506 |
Male | 2,442 | 1,852 | 1,101 | 351 |
Total | 4,592 | 3,553 | 2,339 | 857 |
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 | 2,746 | 2,005 | 1,128 | 316 |
Not disadvantaged | 1,846 | 1,548 | 1,211 | 541 |
Total | 4,592 | 3,553 | 2,339 | 857 |