Cherokee County

Began 8th grade in 2011

644 students

Graduated from high school

488 (75.8%)

Statewide: 81.1%

Enrolled in college

285 (44.3%)

Statewide: 51.8%

Graduated from college

129 (20.0%)

Statewide: 22.0%

Each year, approximately 350,000 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 644 students in Cherokee County who began 8th grade in 2011, 20.0 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 41 years old; one who started 8th grade in 2011 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, 2011

Ethnicity Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Black 113 85 47 17
Hispanic 228 178 84 42
White 290 215 147 66
Other 13 10 7 N/A
Total 644 488 285 129

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, 2011

Gender Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Female 312 253 173 86
Male 332 235 112 43
Total 644 488 285 129

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, 2011

Economic status Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Disadvantaged 477 344 174 73
Not disadvantaged 167 144 111 56
Total 644 488 285 129