Wise County

Began 8th grade in 2011

693 students

Graduated from high school

577 (83.3%)

Statewide: 81.1%

Enrolled in college

342 (49.4%)

Statewide: 51.8%

Graduated from college

158 (22.8%)

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 693 students in Wise County who began 8th grade in 2011, 22.8 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 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 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Hispanic 183 151 61 26
White 484 404 270 126
Other 26 22 11 6
Total 693 577 342 158

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 305 256 169 80
Male 388 321 173 78
Total 693 577 342 158

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 290 231 87 33
Not disadvantaged 403 346 255 125
Total 693 577 342 158