Region 04

Houston

Began 8th grade in 2011

79,137 students

Graduated from high school

64,278 (81.2%)

Statewide: 81.1%

Enrolled in college

41,993 (53.1%)

Statewide: 51.8%

Graduated from college

17,795 (22.5%)

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 79,137 students in Region 04 who began eighth grade in 2011, 22.5 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 15,958 12,421 8,562 2,356
Hispanic 36,682 29,484 16,842 6,215
White 20,033 16,619 12,175 6,518
Other 6,464 5,754 4,414 2,706
Total 79,137 64,278 41,993 17,795

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 38,457 32,161 22,452 10,538
Male 40,680 32,117 19,541 7,257
Total 79,137 64,278 41,993 17,795

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 45,362 35,076 20,120 6,305
Not disadvantaged 33,775 29,202 21,873 11,490
Total 79,137 64,278 41,993 17,795