Jones County
Began 8th grade in 2011
188 students
Graduated from high school
148 (78.7%)
Statewide: 81.1%
Enrolled in college
99 (52.7%)
Statewide: 51.8%
Graduated from college
55 (29.3%)
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 188 students in Jones County who began 8th grade in 2011, 29.3 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 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 
| Hispanic | 67 | 56 | 32 | 17 | 
| White | 110 | 81 | 61 | 35 | 
| Other | 11 | 11 | 6 | N/A | 
| Total | 188 | 148 | 99 | 55 | 
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 | 90 | 75 | 51 | 29 | 
| Male | 98 | 73 | 48 | 26 | 
| Total | 188 | 148 | 99 | 55 | 
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 | 104 | 71 | 36 | 21 | 
| Not disadvantaged | 84 | 77 | 63 | 34 | 
| Total | 188 | 148 | 99 | 55 |