Winkler County

Began 8th grade in 2007

123 students

Graduated from high school

100 (81.3%)

Statewide: 78.2%

Enrolled in college

67 (54.5%)

Statewide: 53.9%

Graduated from college

28 (22.8%)

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 123 students in Winkler County who began 8th grade in 2007, 22.8 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 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.

Outcome of 8th grade class by ethnicity, 2007

Ethnicity Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Black 384 250 166 48
Hispanic 11,309 8,946 6,768 2,201
White 999 727 552 241
Other 202 143 103 56
Total 123 100 67 28

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, 2007

Gender Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Female 53 43 34 17
Male 70 57 33 11
Total 123 100 67 28

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, 2007

Economic status Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Disadvantaged 53 40 20 6
Not disadvantaged 70 60 47 22
Total 123 100 67 28