Randall County
Began 8th grade in 2011
732 students
Graduated from high school
644 (88.0%)
Statewide: 81.1%
Enrolled in college
456 (62.3%)
Statewide: 51.8%
Graduated from college
232 (31.7%)
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 732 students in Randall County who began 8th grade in 2011, 31.7 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 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 
| Hispanic | 149 | 124 | 94 | 39 | 
| White | 544 | 489 | 343 | 184 | 
| Other | 21 | 16 | 9 | N/A | 
| Total | 732 | 644 | 456 | 232 | 
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 | 362 | 327 | 257 | 135 | 
| Male | 370 | 317 | 199 | 97 | 
| Total | 732 | 644 | 456 | 232 | 
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 | 195 | 159 | 90 | 32 | 
| Not disadvantaged | 537 | 485 | 366 | 200 | 
| Total | 732 | 644 | 456 | 232 |