Table 177.

Average number of Carnegie units earned by public high school graduates in various subject fields, by sex and race/ethnicity: Selected years, 1982 through 2009

[Standard errors appear in parentheses]
Graduation year, sex, and race/ethnicity	Total			English			History/ social studies			Mathematics			Science															Foreign languages			Arts			Career/ technical (occupational) education1			Labor market, family, and consumer education2			Personal use3
													Total			Biology			Chemistry			Physics			Other science4
1	2			3			4			5			6			7			8			9			10			11			12			13			14			15
1982 graduates	21.58		(0.090)	3.93		(0.022)	3.16		(0.028)	2.63		(0.022)	2.20		(0.025)	0.94		(0.014)	0.34		(0.010)	0.17		(0.008)	0.73		(0.016)	0.99		(0.029)	1.47		(0.035)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.58		(0.048)
Sex
Male	21.40		(0.108)	3.88		(0.026)	3.16		(0.034)	2.71		(0.030)	2.27		(0.031)	0.91		(0.016)	0.36		(0.014)	0.23		(0.012)	0.76		(0.018)	0.80		(0.030)	1.29		(0.044)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.69		(0.056)
Female	21.75		(0.101)	3.98		(0.026)	3.15		(0.029)	2.57		(0.024)	2.13		(0.029)	0.97		(0.017)	0.33		(0.013)	0.12		(0.008)	0.71		(0.017)	1.17		(0.036)	1.63		(0.044)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.48		(0.049)
Race/ethnicity
White	21.69		(0.107)	3.90		(0.025)	3.19		(0.032)	2.68		(0.026)	2.27		(0.029)	0.97		(0.015)	0.38		(0.013)	0.20		(0.010)	0.73		(0.017)	1.06		(0.033)	1.53		(0.042)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.52		(0.052)
Black	21.15		(0.169)	4.08		(0.050)	3.08		(0.054)	2.61		(0.043)	2.06		(0.049)	0.90		(0.033)	0.26		(0.023)	0.09		(0.011)	0.81		(0.033)	0.72		(0.067)	1.26		(0.063)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.60		(0.094)
Hispanic	21.23		(0.122)	3.94		(0.037)	3.00		(0.037)	2.33		(0.040)	1.80		(0.038)	0.81		(0.025)	0.16		(0.012)	0.07		(0.007)	0.75		(0.026)	0.77		(0.042)	1.29		(0.054)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.87		(0.081)
Asian/Pacific      Islander	22.46		(0.216)	4.01		(0.091)	3.16		(0.094)	3.15		(0.095)	2.64		(0.125)	1.11		(0.048)	0.61		(0.046)	0.42		(0.048)	0.51		(0.061)	1.79		(0.105)	1.31		(0.124)	—		(†)	—		(†)	3.05		(0.146)
American Indian/      Alaska Native	21.45		(0.330)	3.98		(0.114)	3.25		(0.207)	2.35		(0.129)	2.04		(0.090)	0.84		(0.124)	0.42		(0.087)	0.12	!	(0.039)	0.67		(0.087)	0.48		(0.117)	1.72		(0.338)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.84		(0.128)
1987 graduates	23.00		(0.157)	4.12		(0.022)	3.32		(0.037)	3.01		(0.029)	2.55		(0.046)	1.10		(0.020)	0.47		(0.015)	0.21		(0.011)	0.76		(0.033)	1.35		(0.049)	1.44		(0.044)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.67		(0.073)
Sex
Male	22.88		(0.162)	4.08		(0.021)	3.29		(0.037)	3.05		(0.029)	2.59		(0.049)	1.05		(0.021)	0.47		(0.016)	0.26		(0.013)	0.79		(0.032)	1.16		(0.051)	1.24		(0.046)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.83		(0.081)
Female	23.12		(0.156)	4.15		(0.026)	3.35		(0.041)	2.96		(0.030)	2.52		(0.048)	1.14		(0.022)	0.47		(0.017)	0.17		(0.012)	0.74		(0.035)	1.53		(0.051)	1.63		(0.050)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.51		(0.069)
Race/ethnicity
White	23.11		(0.189)	4.08		(0.028)	3.29		(0.045)	3.01		(0.034)	2.61		(0.058)	1.12		(0.025)	0.50		(0.020)	0.23		(0.012)	0.75		(0.040)	1.38		(0.055)	1.50		(0.055)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.60		(0.082)
Black	22.40		(0.251)	4.22		(0.038)	3.34		(0.073)	2.99		(0.060)	2.33		(0.060)	1.01		(0.036)	0.31		(0.021)	0.10		(0.012)	0.90		(0.051)	1.08		(0.094)	1.20		(0.064)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.73		(0.120)
Hispanic	22.84		(0.162)	4.30		(0.055)	3.22		(0.061)	2.81		(0.056)	2.24		(0.045)	1.07		(0.028)	0.29		(0.015)	0.10		(0.013)	0.78		(0.028)	1.25		(0.071)	1.34		(0.056)	—		(†)	—		(†)	3.19		(0.096)
Asian/Pacific      Islander	24.47		(0.332)	4.37		(0.076)	3.65		(0.163)	3.71		(0.094)	3.14		(0.116)	1.17		(0.027)	0.87		(0.069)	0.50		(0.045)	0.59		(0.048)	2.07		(0.105)	1.18		(0.077)	—		(†)	—		(†)	3.23		(0.185)
American Indian/      Alaska Native	23.23		(0.153)	4.22		(0.033)	3.18		(0.044)	2.98		(0.113)	2.44		(0.104)	1.22		(0.073)	0.32		(0.035)	0.09	!	(0.027)	0.81		(0.041)	0.75		(0.138)	1.68		(0.112)	—		(†)	—		(†)	3.06		(0.050)
1990 graduates	23.53		(0.127)	4.19		(0.034)	3.47		(0.040)	3.15		(0.028)	2.75		(0.028)	1.14		(0.019)	0.53		(0.014)	0.23		(0.010)	0.85		(0.026)	1.54		(0.041)	1.55		(0.045)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.68		(0.073)
Sex
Male	23.35		(0.130)	4.13		(0.035)	3.45		(0.041)	3.16		(0.028)	2.78		(0.033)	1.11		(0.021)	0.52		(0.017)	0.28		(0.012)	0.88		(0.027)	1.33		(0.040)	1.31		(0.047)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.87		(0.077)
Female	23.69		(0.132)	4.25		(0.036)	3.50		(0.041)	3.14		(0.033)	2.73		(0.027)	1.17		(0.019)	0.53		(0.014)	0.19		(0.010)	0.83		(0.027)	1.72		(0.045)	1.76		(0.050)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.51		(0.072)
Race/ethnicity
White	23.54		(0.133)	4.12		(0.036)	3.46		(0.045)	3.13		(0.032)	2.80		(0.033)	1.15		(0.020)	0.55		(0.016)	0.25		(0.011)	0.84		(0.022)	1.58		(0.049)	1.61		(0.056)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.61		(0.076)
Black	23.40		(0.255)	4.34		(0.044)	3.49		(0.058)	3.20		(0.064)	2.68		(0.061)	1.11		(0.042)	0.42		(0.024)	0.16		(0.020)	0.98		(0.068)	1.20		(0.075)	1.34		(0.052)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.74		(0.124)
Hispanic	23.83		(0.210)	4.51		(0.139)	3.42		(0.071)	3.13		(0.058)	2.50		(0.046)	1.10		(0.034)	0.42		(0.034)	0.14		(0.016)	0.83		(0.041)	1.57		(0.060)	1.48		(0.072)	—		(†)	—		(†)	3.10		(0.103)
Asian/Pacific      Islander	24.07		(0.236)	4.50		(0.117)	3.70		(0.126)	3.52		(0.060)	2.97		(0.114)	1.12		(0.085)	0.74		(0.057)	0.42		(0.047)	0.68		(0.080)	2.06		(0.150)	1.29		(0.084)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.96		(0.221)
American Indian/
Alaska Native	22.64		(0.267)	4.08		(0.092)	3.34		(0.083)	3.04		(0.152)	2.48		(0.175)	1.09		(0.090)	0.42		(0.072)	0.15		(0.039)	0.83		(0.090)	1.15		(0.188)	1.11		(0.126)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.81		(0.148)
1994 graduates	24.17		(0.144)	4.29		(0.028)	3.55		(0.041)	3.33		(0.021)	3.04		(0.028)	1.26		(0.018)	0.62		(0.013)	0.28		(0.011)	0.88		(0.024)	1.71		(0.033)	1.66		(0.041)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.63		(0.077)
Sex
Male	23.79		(0.146)	4.26		(0.028)	3.51		(0.041)	3.32		(0.022)	3.03		(0.030)	1.20		(0.020)	0.59		(0.015)	0.32		(0.014)	0.91		(0.026)	1.49		(0.034)	1.43		(0.038)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.83		(0.081)
Female	24.11		(0.147)	4.32		(0.030)	3.59		(0.041)	3.34		(0.023)	3.06		(0.028)	1.31		(0.018)	0.64		(0.014)	0.24		(0.010)	0.86		(0.024)	1.93		(0.034)	1.87		(0.051)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.44		(0.078)
Race/ethnicity
White	24.08		(0.183)	4.23		(0.035)	3.56		(0.049)	3.36		(0.023)	3.13		(0.032)	1.29		(0.022)	0.65		(0.014)	0.30		(0.014)	0.89		(0.030)	1.76		(0.039)	1.74		(0.049)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.61		(0.096)
Black	23.28		(0.132)	4.36		(0.034)	3.51		(0.039)	3.23		(0.030)	2.80		(0.042)	1.21		(0.036)	0.49		(0.028)	0.17		(0.013)	0.92		(0.051)	1.35		(0.052)	1.36		(0.066)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.69		(0.101)
Hispanic	23.71		(0.131)	4.61		(0.075)	3.45		(0.046)	3.28		(0.041)	2.69		(0.046)	1.19		(0.027)	0.49		(0.047)	0.17		(0.021)	0.83		(0.058)	1.73		(0.062)	1.51		(0.046)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.93		(0.086)
Asian/Pacific      Islander	23.84		(0.256)	4.60		(0.091)	3.66		(0.097)	3.66		(0.082)	3.35		(0.131)	1.22		(0.042)	0.81		(0.062)	0.48		(0.058)	0.80		(0.034)	2.09		(0.085)	1.32		(0.121)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.78		(0.123)
American Indian/
Alaska Native	23.40		(0.541)	4.27		(0.113)	3.57		(0.201)	3.11		(0.038)	2.82		(0.073)	1.28		(0.069)	0.50		(0.065)	0.13		(0.039)	0.91		(0.057)	1.30		(0.150)	2.01		(0.351)	—		(†)	—		(†)	3.12		(0.355)
1998 graduates	25.14		(0.162)	4.25		(0.037)	3.74		(0.038)	3.40		(0.024)	3.12		(0.026)	1.26		(0.021)	0.66		(0.015)	0.31		(0.015)	0.89		(0.024)	1.85		(0.039)	1.90		(0.079)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.89		(0.076)
Sex
Male	24.64		(0.162)	4.19		(0.038)	3.68		(0.040)	3.37		(0.024)	3.09		(0.028)	1.20		(0.021)	0.62		(0.014)	0.33		(0.018)	0.93		(0.026)	1.62		(0.040)	1.61		(0.072)	—		(†)	—		(†)	3.12		(0.079)
Female	25.04		(0.166)	4.31		(0.039)	3.80		(0.036)	3.42		(0.025)	3.17		(0.029)	1.32		(0.023)	0.70		(0.018)	0.28		(0.015)	0.87		(0.023)	2.06		(0.041)	2.15		(0.094)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.67		(0.080)
Race/ethnicity
White	24.87		(0.178)	4.19		(0.049)	3.77		(0.046)	3.40		(0.028)	3.18		(0.028)	1.28		(0.025)	0.69		(0.017)	0.33		(0.019)	0.87		(0.027)	1.90		(0.049)	2.00		(0.078)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.80		(0.088)
Black	24.37		(0.250)	4.28		(0.045)	3.69		(0.050)	3.42		(0.042)	3.03		(0.064)	1.24		(0.038)	0.58		(0.025)	0.22		(0.022)	0.97		(0.045)	1.58		(0.062)	1.57		(0.152)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.94		(0.080)
Hispanic	24.69		(0.218)	4.51		(0.055)	3.60		(0.051)	3.28		(0.041)	2.81		(0.054)	1.13		(0.026)	0.50		(0.036)	0.20		(0.020)	0.97		(0.042)	1.78		(0.055)	1.78		(0.113)	—		(†)	—		(†)	3.36		(0.121)
Asian/Pacific      Islander	24.67		(0.195)	4.37		(0.068)	3.92		(0.086)	3.62		(0.029)	3.43		(0.079)	1.26		(0.027)	0.83		(0.037)	0.51		(0.036)	0.81		(0.041)	2.29		(0.129)	1.52		(0.056)	—		(†)	—		(†)	2.95		(0.208)
American Indian/      Alaska Native	23.81		(0.350)	4.18		(0.082)	3.67		(0.093)	3.10		(0.081)	2.68		(0.081)	1.07		(0.056)	0.49		(0.038)	0.15		(0.024)	0.98		(0.070)	1.45		(0.132)	1.94		(0.146)	—		(†)	—		(†)	3.40		(0.212)
2000 graduates	26.15		(0.204)	4.26		(0.037)	3.89		(0.036)	3.62		(0.029)	3.20		(0.038)	1.28		(0.028)	0.71		(0.020)	0.37		(0.018)	0.84		(0.030)	2.01		(0.045)	2.03		(0.054)	2.86		(0.105)	1.35		(0.044)	3.49		(0.071)
Sex
Male	26.01		(0.210)	4.18		(0.036)	3.83		(0.036)	3.60		(0.032)	3.15		(0.039)	1.20		(0.030)	0.67		(0.020)	0.42		(0.020)	0.87		(0.029)	1.77		(0.045)	1.75		(0.051)	3.24		(0.133)	1.35		(0.049)	3.76		(0.079)
Female	26.26		(0.204)	4.34		(0.040)	3.95		(0.038)	3.64		(0.028)	3.24		(0.041)	1.36		(0.030)	0.74		(0.022)	0.33		(0.018)	0.81		(0.031)	2.25		(0.050)	2.29		(0.065)	2.48		(0.086)	1.34		(0.047)	3.22		(0.068)
Race/ethnicity
White	26.31		(0.256)	4.26		(0.037)	3.93		(0.042)	3.63		(0.032)	3.24		(0.038)	1.30		(0.034)	0.72		(0.024)	0.39		(0.021)	0.83		(0.033)	1.98		(0.054)	2.11		(0.068)	2.97		(0.136)	1.37		(0.055)	3.37		(0.080)
Black	25.85		(0.233)	4.36		(0.078)	3.81		(0.068)	3.57		(0.046)	3.12		(0.059)	1.25		(0.041)	0.66		(0.030)	0.30		(0.027)	0.91		(0.043)	1.71		(0.070)	1.94		(0.134)	2.74		(0.143)	1.54		(0.075)	3.60		(0.134)
Hispanic	25.59		(0.358)	4.29		(0.125)	3.84		(0.076)	3.48		(0.069)	2.86		(0.112)	1.18		(0.068)	0.58		(0.055)	0.25		(0.026)	0.84		(0.044)	2.22		(0.063)	1.76		(0.062)	2.64		(0.152)	1.20		(0.082)	3.95		(0.173)
Asian/Pacific      Islander	26.23		(0.332)	4.12		(0.060)	3.80		(0.055)	4.01		(0.108)	3.70		(0.162)	1.35		(0.066)	0.97		(0.050)	0.67		(0.042)	0.71		(0.086)	2.90		(0.089)	1.78		(0.085)	1.99		(0.149)	0.81		(0.050)	3.52		(0.221)
American Indian/      Alaska Native	25.24		(0.342)	4.08		(0.069)	3.82		(0.102)	3.35		(0.117)	2.88		(0.086)	1.25		(0.080)	0.45		(0.045)	0.19		(0.042)	0.98		(0.038)	1.41		(0.105)	1.99		(0.220)	3.23		(0.380)	1.60		(0.151)	3.60		(0.365)
2005 graduates	26.88		(0.102)	4.33		(0.022)	4.08		(0.027)	3.80		(0.018)	3.35		(0.019)	1.28		(0.016)	0.75		(0.011)	0.37		(0.012)	0.95		(0.019)	2.07		(0.022)	2.06		(0.035)	2.64		(0.045)	1.38		(0.030)	3.83		(0.047)
Sex
Male	26.70		(0.107)	4.26		(0.024)	4.01		(0.030)	3.78		(0.021)	3.29		(0.023)	1.19		(0.016)	0.71		(0.012)	0.41		(0.014)	0.98		(0.019)	1.87		(0.025)	1.71		(0.035)	3.01		(0.050)	1.36		(0.032)	4.17		(0.055)
Female	27.05		(0.104)	4.39		(0.022)	4.16		(0.028)	3.83		(0.018)	3.41		(0.019)	1.37		(0.017)	0.79		(0.012)	0.33		(0.012)	0.92		(0.020)	2.25		(0.023)	2.38		(0.045)	2.29		(0.049)	1.41		(0.033)	3.52		(0.050)
Race/ethnicity
White	27.06		(0.127)	4.30		(0.030)	4.12		(0.030)	3.80		(0.022)	3.44		(0.021)	1.31		(0.018)	0.77		(0.014)	0.39		(0.012)	0.96		(0.021)	2.03		(0.025)	2.17		(0.043)	2.75		(0.059)	1.39		(0.036)	3.64		(0.059)
Black	26.76		(0.151)	4.50		(0.028)	4.10		(0.054)	3.86		(0.036)	3.22		(0.035)	1.27		(0.025)	0.69		(0.017)	0.28		(0.025)	0.99		(0.037)	1.77		(0.041)	1.77		(0.056)	2.58		(0.074)	1.56		(0.065)	4.32		(0.096)
Hispanic	26.18		(0.147)	4.33		(0.026)	3.88		(0.052)	3.64		(0.034)	2.93		(0.036)	1.11		(0.021)	0.64		(0.022)	0.25		(0.017)	0.94		(0.031)	2.39		(0.047)	1.78		(0.055)	2.41		(0.086)	1.30		(0.046)	4.44		(0.100)
Asian/Pacific      Islander	26.58		(0.183)	4.28		(0.043)	4.02		(0.048)	4.08		(0.051)	3.65		(0.057)	1.31		(0.035)	0.98		(0.028)	0.59		(0.036)	0.77		(0.061)	2.70		(0.066)	1.80		(0.076)	1.94		(0.116)	0.98		(0.052)	3.53		(0.122)
American Indian/      Alaska Native	26.66		(0.454)	4.42		(0.136)	4.15		(0.151)	3.60		(0.175)	3.00		(0.075)	1.27		(0.061)	0.52		(0.053)	0.17		(0.036)	1.04		(0.063)	1.55		(0.125)	2.45		(0.179)	2.45		(0.208)	1.70		(0.184)	4.24		(0.294)
2009 graduates	27.15		(0.100)	4.37		(0.013)	4.19		(0.027)	3.91		(0.017)	3.47		(0.022)	1.35		(0.014)	0.78		(0.011)	0.42		(0.013)	0.92		(0.017)	2.21		(0.027)	2.12		(0.036)	2.47		(0.059)	1.11		(0.030)	3.86		(0.059)
Sex
Male	26.98		(0.111)	4.30		(0.015)	4.13		(0.028)	3.88		(0.018)	3.46		(0.027)	1.27		(0.014)	0.74		(0.012)	0.48		(0.017)	0.96		(0.017)	2.01		(0.028)	1.76		(0.034)	2.77		(0.068)	1.13		(0.036)	4.18		(0.070)
Female	27.31		(0.095)	4.42		(0.014)	4.25		(0.027)	3.93		(0.018)	3.49		(0.020)	1.43		(0.015)	0.82		(0.011)	0.37		(0.012)	0.88		(0.019)	2.40		(0.028)	2.46		(0.046)	2.19		(0.055)	1.10		(0.028)	3.57		(0.060)
Race/ethnicity
White	27.30		(0.151)	4.32		(0.016)	4.23		(0.037)	3.91		(0.021)	3.55		(0.026)	1.37		(0.015)	0.80		(0.013)	0.44		(0.016)	0.94		(0.022)	2.19		(0.032)	2.26		(0.042)	2.55		(0.071)	1.16		(0.040)	3.70		(0.075)
Black	27.42		(0.141)	4.56		(0.039)	4.26		(0.036)	4.02		(0.035)	3.31		(0.027)	1.33		(0.025)	0.68		(0.022)	0.30		(0.019)	1.00		(0.028)	1.87		(0.044)	1.87		(0.067)	2.72		(0.127)	1.21		(0.052)	4.29		(0.102)
Hispanic	26.47		(0.194)	4.43		(0.024)	4.04		(0.040)	3.70		(0.029)	3.13		(0.028)	1.24		(0.019)	0.70		(0.015)	0.32		(0.015)	0.87		(0.024)	2.34		(0.034)	1.85		(0.046)	2.31		(0.101)	1.04		(0.040)	4.26		(0.095)
Asian/Pacific      Islander	26.94		(0.190)	4.19		(0.039)	4.13		(0.083)	4.16		(0.052)	4.06		(0.091)	1.56		(0.077)	1.08		(0.035)	0.75		(0.033)	0.68		(0.063)	2.98		(0.090)	1.99		(0.065)	1.63		(0.074)	0.62		(0.054)	3.47		(0.100)
American Indian/
Alaska Native	26.17		(0.409)	4.39		(0.085)	4.11		(0.083)	3.76		(0.125)	3.20		(0.070)	1.38		(0.062)	0.50		(0.051)	0.24		(0.046)	1.09		(0.066)	1.56		(0.097)	2.19		(0.157)	2.35		(0.188)	1.20		(0.117)	4.54		(0.370)

—Not available.

†Not applicable.

!Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.

1 Includes occupational education in agriculture; business and marketing; communications and design; computer and information sciences; construction and architecture; engineering technologies; health sciences; manufacturing; repair and transportation; and personal, public, and legal services. Does not include general labor market preparation courses and family and consumer sciences education courses.

2 Includes general labor market preparation courses and family and consumer sciences education courses.

3 Includes general skills, personal health and physical education, religion, military sciences, special education, and other courses not included in other academic subject fields. Some personal-use courses are also included in the Career/technical (occupational) education column and the Labor market, family, and consumer education column.

4 Includes all science credits earned outside of biology, chemistry, and physics.

NOTE: The Carnegie unit is a standard of measurement that represents one credit for the completion of a 1-year course. Data differ slightly from figures appearing in other NCES reports because of differences in taxonomies and case exclusion criteria. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Totals include other racial/ethnic groups not separately shown. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, High School and Beyond Longitudinal Study of 1980 Sophomores (HS&B-So:80/82), "High School Transcript Study"; and 1987, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2005, and 2009 High School Transcript Study (HSTS). (This table was prepared September 2011.)