Region 08

Mt Pleasant

Began 8th grade in 2008

4,098 students

Graduated from high school

3,274 (79.9%)

Statewide: 78.2%

Enrolled in college

2,186 (53.3%)

Statewide: 53.9%

Graduated from college

941 (23.0%)

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 4,098 students in Region 08 who began eighth grade in 2008, 23.0 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 35 years old; one who started 8th grade in 2008 is now about 25.

We have broken down these numbers by ethnicity, gender and economic status.

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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, 2008

Ethnicity Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Black 928 750 514 144
Hispanic 557 440 250 102
White 2,564 2,045 1,398 683
Other 49 39 24 12
Total 4,098 3,274 2,186 941

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, 2008

Gender Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Female 2,038 1,644 1,236 550
Male 2,060 1,630 950 391
Total 4,098 3,274 2,186 941

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, 2008

Economic status Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Disadvantaged 2,131 1,579 939 314
Not disadvantaged 1,967 1,695 1,247 627
Total 4,098 3,274 2,186 941