Winkler County

Began 8th grade in 2006

126 students

Graduated from high school

101 (80.2%)

Statewide: 76.3%

Enrolled in college

66 (52.4%)

Statewide: 53.9%

Graduated from college

25 (19.8%)

Statewide: 21.6%

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 126 students in Winkler County who began 8th grade in 2006, 19.8 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 1996 is about 35 years old; one who started 8th grade in 2006 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.

Outcome of 8th grade class by ethnicity, 2006

Ethnicity Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Black 380 226 170 42
Hispanic 11,759 9,095 6,958 2,298
White 988 701 543 240
Other 213 151 111 50
Total 126 101 66 25

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.

Outcome of 8th grade class by gender, 2006

Gender Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Female 67 51 34 14
Male 59 50 32 11
Total 126 101 66 25

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.

Outcome of 8th grade class by economic status, 2006

Economic status Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Disadvantaged 64 50 26 8
Not disadvantaged 62 51 40 17
Total 126 101 66 25