Began 8th grade in 2008

52,728 students

Graduated from high school

42,124 (79.9%)

Statewide: 78.8%

Enrolled in college

27,601 (52.3%)

Statewide: 53.1%

Graduated from college

11,788 (22.4%)

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 52,728 students in Region 10 who began eighth grade in 2008, 22.4 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.

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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 11,052 8,427 6,008 1,735
Hispanic 19,733 15,148 7,890 2,792
White 18,963 15,977 11,727 5,978
Other 2,980 2,572 1,976 1,283
Total 52,728 42,124 27,601 11,788

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 25,632 21,076 14,601 6,821
Male 27,096 21,048 13,000 4,967
Total 52,728 42,124 27,601 11,788

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 26,591 19,711 10,767 3,306
Not disadvantaged 26,137 22,413 16,834 8,482
Total 52,728 42,124 27,601 11,788