Henderson County
Began 8th grade in 2011
812 students
Graduated from high school
655 (80.7%)
Statewide: 81.1%
Enrolled in college
392 (48.3%)
Statewide: 51.8%
Graduated from college
167 (20.6%)
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 812 students in Henderson County who began 8th grade in 2011, 20.6 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.
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.
| Ethnicity | Class size | Graduated high school | Enrolled in college | Graduated from college | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 69 | 61 | 33 | 8 | 
| Hispanic | 172 | 147 | 66 | 31 | 
| White | 546 | 429 | 278 | 125 | 
| Other | 25 | 18 | 15 | N/A | 
| Total | 812 | 655 | 392 | 167 | 
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.
| Gender | Class size | Graduated high school | Enrolled in college | Graduated from college | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 400 | 327 | 226 | 105 | 
| Male | 412 | 328 | 166 | 62 | 
| Total | 812 | 655 | 392 | 167 | 
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.
| Economic status | Class size | Graduated high school | Enrolled in college | Graduated from college | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disadvantaged | 513 | 391 | 199 | 73 | 
| Not disadvantaged | 299 | 264 | 193 | 94 | 
| Total | 812 | 655 | 392 | 167 |