Polk County
Began 8th grade in 2007
501 students
Graduated from high school
396 (79.0%)
Statewide: 78.2%
Enrolled in college
245 (48.9%)
Statewide: 53.9%
Graduated from college
89 (17.8%)
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 501 students in Polk County who began 8th grade in 2007, 17.8 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 2007 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 | 83 | 71 | 49 | 13 |
Hispanic | 62 | 51 | 30 | 17 |
White | 343 | 263 | 160 | 58 |
Other | 13 | 11 | 6 | 1 |
Total | 501 | 396 | 245 | 89 |
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 | 255 | 198 | 129 | 53 |
Male | 246 | 198 | 116 | 36 |
Total | 501 | 396 | 245 | 89 |
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 | 272 | 208 | 103 | 33 |
Not disadvantaged | 229 | 188 | 142 | 56 |
Total | 501 | 396 | 245 | 89 |