Ellis County

Began 8th grade in 2011

2,402 students

Graduated from high school

2,022 (84.2%)

Statewide: 81.1%

Enrolled in college

1,394 (58.0%)

Statewide: 51.8%

Graduated from college

643 (26.8%)

Statewide: 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 2,402 students in Ellis County who began 8th grade in 2011, 26.8 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

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 280 242 167 52
Hispanic 779 662 407 165
White 1,264 1,053 769 402
Other 79 65 51 24
Total 2,402 2,022 1,394 643

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 1,153 992 722 349
Male 1,249 1,030 672 294
Total 2,402 2,022 1,394 643

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 1,059 843 472 169
Not disadvantaged 1,343 1,179 922 474
Total 2,402 2,022 1,394 643