Region 14

Abilene

Began 8th grade in 2008

3,367 students

Graduated from high school

2,692 (80.0%)

Statewide: 78.8%

Enrolled in college

1,762 (52.3%)

Statewide: 53.1%

Graduated from college

866 (25.7%)

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 3,367 students in Region 14 who began eighth grade in 2008, 25.7 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 38 years old; one who started 8th grade in 2008 is now about 27.

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 247 198 110 27
Hispanic 1,014 798 455 180
White 2,059 1,662 1,178 646
Other 47 34 19 13
Total 3,367 2,692 1,762 866

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 1,653 1,338 948 489
Male 1,714 1,354 814 377
Total 3,367 2,692 1,762 866

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 1,696 1,245 643 224
Not disadvantaged 1,671 1,447 1,119 642
Total 3,367 2,692 1,762 866