Texas

Began 8th grade in 2011

360,198 students

Graduated from high school

292,107 (81.1%)

Enrolled in college

186,698 (51.8%)

Graduated from college

79,086 (22.0%)

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 2011.

Of the 360,198 students in Texas who began 8th grade in 2011, 22.0 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 40 years old; one who started 8th grade in 2011 is now about 26.

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

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Ethnicity

Students in 8th grade cohorts who graduated from high school, enrolled in higher education and completed a certificate or degree, broken down by ethnicity.

Outcome of 8th grade class by ethnicity, 2011

Ethnicity Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Black 47,060 36,713 24,297 6,884
Hispanic 177,619 143,168 82,984 30,941
White 115,129 94,844 66,538 33,812
Other 20,390 17,382 12,879 7,449
Total 360,198 292,107 186,698 79,086

Gender

Students in each 8th grade cohort who enrolled in higher education and completed a certificate or degree, broken down by gender.

Outcome of 8th grade class by gender, 2011

Gender Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Female 175,122 145,664 99,878 46,470
Male 185,076 146,443 86,820 32,616
Total 360,198 292,107 186,698 79,086

Economic status

Students in each 8th grade cohort who enrolled in higher education and completed a certificate or degree, broken down by economic status when they entered 8th grade.

Outcome of 8th grade class by economic status, 2011

Economic status Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Disadvantaged 207,831 160,418 88,479 28,664
Not disadvantaged 152,367 131,689 98,219 50,422
Total 360,198 292,107 186,698 79,086