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Digest of Education Statistics
2008 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest


Table 201. Recent high school completers and their enrollment in college, by race/ethnicity: 1960 through 2007

[Numbers in thousands]
Year Number of high school completers1  Enrolled in college2 
Total White Black3  Hispanic3  Total White Black3  Hispanic3 
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Annual 3-year
moving average
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
1960 1,679 (43.8) 1,565 (44.7) (†) (†) 758 (40.9) 45.1 (2.13) 717 (40.2) 45.8 (2.21) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1961 1,763 (46.0) 1,612 (46.9) (†) (†) 847 (42.9) 48.0 (2.09) 798 (42.2) 49.5 (2.19) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1962 1,838 (43.6) 1,660 (45.2) (†) (†) 900 (43.2) 49.0 (2.05) 840 (42.4) 50.6 (2.15) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1963 1,741 (44.2) 1,615 (45.2) (†) (†) 784 (41.5) 45.0 (2.09) 736 (40.7) 45.6 (2.17) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1964 2,145 (43.0) 1,964 (45.4) (†) (†) 1,037 (45.6) 48.3 (1.89) 967 (44.8) 49.2 (1.98) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
                                                     
1965 2,659 (47.7) 2,417 (50.6) (†) (†) 1,354 (51.4) 50.9 (1.70) 1,249 (50.4) 51.7 (1.78) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1966 2,612 (45.0) 2,403 (48.0) (†) (†) 1,309 (50.2) 50.1 (1.72) 1,243 (49.6) 51.7 (1.79) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1967 2,525 (37.9) 2,267 (40.3) (†) (†) 1,311 (40.9) 51.9 (1.42) 1,202 (40.1) 53.0 (1.50) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1968 2,606 (37.3) 2,303 (40.4) (†) (†) 1,444 (41.7) 55.4 (1.39) 1,304 (40.9) 56.6 (1.47) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1969 2,842 (36.0) 2,538 (39.8) (†) (†) 1,516 (42.5) 53.3 (1.34) 1,402 (42.0) 55.2 (1.41) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
                                                     
1970 2,758 (37.4) 2,461 (40.7) (†) (†) 1,427 (42.2) 51.7 (1.36) 1,280 (41.2) 52.0 (1.44) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1971 2,875 (38.0) 2,596 (41.1) (†) (†) 1,538 (43.2) 53.5 (1.33) 1,402 (42.5) 54.0 (1.40) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1972 2,964 (37.8) 2,520 (31.2) 316 (18.3) 101 (14.2) 1,459 (43.1) 49.2 (1.31) 1,252 (39.0) 49.7 (1.42) 141 (16.7) 44.6 (4.62) 46 (11.7) 45.0 (9.74) (†)
1973 3,058 (37.1) 2,590 (30.8) 324 (18.5) 119 (13.7) 1,424 (43.0) 46.6 (1.29) 1,238 (39.2) 47.8 (1.40) 105 (15.2) 32.5 (4.30) 64 (13.0) 54.1 (9.01) 48.7 (5.33)
1974 3,101 (38.6) 2,620 (31.4) 325 (19.0) 121 (15.2) 1,475 (43.7) 47.6 (1.28) 1,236 (39.4) 47.2 (1.39) 154 (17.4) 47.2 (4.58) 57 (12.9) 46.9 (8.94) 53.0 (5.09)
                                                     
1975 3,185 (38.6) 2,701 (31.9) 302 (15.4) 132 (15.8) 1,615 (44.8) 50.7 (1.26) 1,381 (40.5) 51.1 (1.37) 126 (13.6) 41.7 (3.97) 77 (14.5) 58.0 (8.44) 52.5 (4.88)
1976 2,986 (39.8) 2,492 (33.1) 290 (15.8) 152 (16.2) 1,458 (43.6) 48.8 (1.31) 1,217 (39.1) 48.8 (1.43) 129 (13.8) 44.4 (4.08) 80 (14.8) 52.7 (7.97) 53.8 (4.68)
1977 3,141 (40.7) 2,618 (34.0) 325 (19.3) 155 (16.0) 1,590 (45.4) 50.6 (1.29) 1,331 (40.8) 50.8 (1.41) 161 (17.9) 49.5 (4.65) 79 (14.8) 50.8 (7.96) 48.5 (4.72)
1978 3,163 (39.7) 2,615 (33.7) 345 (18.4) 135 (15.3) 1,585 (45.2) 50.1 (1.28) 1,321 (40.6) 50.5 (1.41) 160 (17.7) 46.4 (4.51) 56 (13.0) 42.0 (8.44) 45.9 (4.69)
1979 3,160 (40.0) 2,629 (32.7) 319 (19.7) 155 (16.1) 1,559 (45.1) 49.3 (1.28) 1,313 (40.5) 49.9 (1.41) 149 (17.5) 46.7 (4.69) 70 (14.3) 45.0 (7.92) 46.4 (4.83)
                                                     
1980 3,088 (39.4) 2,554 (30.9) 350 (19.7) 130 (17.1) 1,523 (44.6) 49.3 (1.30) 1,273 (39.6) 49.8 (1.43) 149 (17.7) 42.7 (4.44) 68 (14.4) 52.3 (8.70) 49.8 (4.78)
1981 3,056 (42.2) 2,490 (34.1) 349 (20.5) 146 (17.6) 1,648 (45.8) 53.9 (1.30) 1,367 (40.5) 54.9 (1.44) 149 (17.8) 42.7 (4.44) 76 (15.1) 52.1 (8.19) 49.2 (4.68)
1982 3,100 (40.4) 2,474 (32.9) 382 (19.6) 173 (18.2) 1,569 (46.9) 50.6 (1.36) 1,303 (41.5) 52.7 (1.52) 137 (17.9) 35.8 (4.33) 75 (15.8) 43.2 (7.96) 49.8 (4.94)
1983 2,963 (41.6) 2,363 (33.1) 390 (21.1) 138 (17.8) 1,562 (46.7) 52.7 (1.39) 1,301 (40.9) 55.0 (1.55) 149 (18.7) 38.2 (4.34) 75 (15.7) 54.2 (8.96) 47.3 (4.73)
1984 3,012 (36.5) 2,331 (29.1) 433 (18.5) 187 (17.0) 1,663 (46.0) 55.2 (1.37) 1,375 (39.9) 59.0 (1.54) 172 (19.4) 39.8 (4.15) 83 (16.2) 44.3 (7.67) 49.9 (4.89)
                                                     
1985 2,668 (40.1) 2,104 (32.3) 332 (19.3) 141 (19.7) 1,540 (45.1) 57.7 (1.45) 1,264 (39.2) 60.1 (1.62) 140 (17.8) 42.2 (4.78) 72 (17.0) 51.0 (9.76) 46.5 (5.19)
1986 2,786 (38.6) 2,146 (30.3) 378 (18.4) 169 (21.7) 1,498 (45.0) 53.8 (1.43) 1,219 (38.8) 56.8 (1.62) 140 (17.9) 36.9 (4.38) 74 (17.7) 44.0 (8.85) 42.9 (5.21)
1987 2,647 (40.9) 2,040 (32.4) 333 (20.6) 176 (20.9) 1,503 (45.1) 56.8 (1.46) 1,195 (38.7) 58.6 (1.65) 174 (19.3) 52.2 (4.82) 59 (16.1) 33.5 (8.25) 44.9 (5.04)
1988 2,673 (47.0) 2,013 (37.9) 378 (22.3) 179 (26.6) 1,575 (50.3) 58.9 (1.57) 1,230 (42.9) 61.1 (1.79) 168 (21.1) 44.4 (4.91) 102 (23.6) 57.1 (10.14) 48.6 (5.99)
1989 2,450 (46.5) 1,889 (37.3) 332 (21.3) 168 (26.5) 1,460 (48.7) 59.6 (1.64) 1,147 (41.7) 60.7 (1.85) 177 (20.9) 53.4 (5.27) 93 (22.9) 55.1 (10.51) 51.6 (6.33)
                                                     
1990 2,362 (43.0) 1,819 (32.2) 331 (21.9) 121 (21.8) 1,420 (45.9) 60.1 (1.60) 1,147 (38.5) 63.0 (1.80) 155 (19.7) 46.8 (5.08) 52 (16.0) 42.7 (10.82) 51.7 (5.70)
1991 2,276 (41.0) 1,727 (30.3) 310 (20.2) 154 (23.5) 1,423 (44.8) 62.5 (1.62) 1,129 (37.2) 65.4 (1.82) 144 (18.8) 46.4 (5.25) 88 (19.9) 57.2 (9.58) 51.6 (5.52)
1992 2,397 (40.4) 1,724 (30.9) 354 (21.4) 198 (23.0) 1,483 (45.4) 61.9 (1.58) 1,109 (37.4) 64.3 (1.84) 171 (20.2) 48.2 (4.92) 109 (21.0) 55.0 (8.50) 58.1 (5.04)
1993 2,342 (41.4) 1,719 (32.6) 304 (20.4) 201 (23.1) 1,467 (45.4) 62.6 (1.59) 1,082 (37.9) 62.9 (1.85) 169 (19.6) 55.6 (5.28) 125 (21.9) 62.2 (8.22) 55.4 (4.97)
1994 2,517 (38.1) 1,915 (27.0) 316 (17.9) 178 (17.3) 1,559 (43.0) 61.9 (1.43) 1,236 (35.5) 64.5 (1.61) 161 (16.7) 50.8 (4.42) 87 (14.0) 49.1 (6.28) 55.0 (3.23)
                                                     
1995 2,599 (40.9) 1,861 (30.1) 349 (19.2) 288 (19.4) 1,610 (44.5) 61.9 (1.41) 1,197 (36.1) 64.3 (1.64) 179 (17.6) 51.2 (4.20) 155 (17.6) 53.7 (4.92) 51.2 (3.18)
1996 2,660 (40.5) 1,875 (30.8) 406 (17.3) 227 (18.9) 1,729 (46.1) 65.0 (1.42) 1,264 (37.5) 67.4 (1.67) 227 (19.0) 56.0 (4.03) 115 (16.3) 50.8 (5.79) 56.7 (2.97)
1997 2,769 (41.8) 1,909 (31.8) 384 (19.2) 336 (19.0) 1,856 (47.3) 67.0 (1.38) 1,301 (38.1) 68.2 (1.64) 225 (19.4) 58.5 (4.12) 220 (19.7) 65.6 (4.53) 54.6 (2.94)
1998 2,810 (43.9) 1,980 (33.0) 386 (20.2) 314 (20.8) 1,844 (48.3) 65.6 (1.38) 1,357 (39.0) 68.5 (1.61) 239 (20.0) 61.9 (4.05) 149 (18.3) 47.4 (4.92) 51.8 (2.79)
1999 2,897 (41.5) 1,978 (31.8) 436 (15.2) 329 (20.9) 1,822 (47.8) 62.9 (1.38) 1,311 (38.6) 66.3 (1.64) 257 (19.1) 58.9 (3.86) 139 (18.0) 42.3 (4.76) 47.5 (2.84)
                                                     
2000 2,756 (45.3) 1,938 (32.9) 393 (20.0) 300 (22.4) 1,745 (48.4) 63.3 (1.41) 1,272 (38.8) 65.7 (1.66) 216 (19.5) 54.9 (4.11) 159 (19.2) 52.9 (5.03) 49.0 (2.96)
2001 2,549 (46.5) 1,834 (34.8) 381 (20.3) 241 (21.1) 1,574 (47.5) 61.8 (1.48) 1,178 (38.7) 64.3 (1.72) 210 (19.4) 55.0 (4.17) 124 (17.4) 51.7 (5.63) 52.7 (2.93)
2002 2,796 (42.7) 1,903 (31.3) 382 (19.1) 344 (21.6) 1,824 (46.1) 65.2 (1.31) 1,314 (36.5) 69.1 (1.55) 227 (18.7) 59.4 (3.90) 184 (19.2) 53.6 (4.46) 54.6 (2.75)
20034  2,677 (42.2) 1,832 (30.8) 327 (18.4) 314 (20.9) 1,711 (45.2) 63.9 (1.35) 1,213 (35.9) 66.2 (1.61) 188 (17.4) 57.5 (4.25) 184 (18.9) 58.6 (4.61) 58.0 (2.66)
20044  2,752 (40.0) 1,854 (30.9) 398 (15.5) 286 (19.9) 1,835 (44.9) 66.7 (1.31) 1,276 (36.1) 68.8 (1.57) 249 (17.9) 62.5 (3.77) 177 (18.4) 61.8 (4.76) 58.1 (2.60)
                                                     
20054  2,675 (40.8) 1,799 (30.5) 345 (16.6) 390 (20.6) 1,834 (44.8) 68.6 (1.31) 1,317 (35.4) 73.2 (1.52) 192 (17.1) 55.7 (4.15) 211 (19.7) 54.0 (4.18) 57.9 (2.51)
20064  2,692 (44.6) 1,805 (33.2) 318 (20.6) 382 (22.1) 1,776 (46.4) 66.0 (1.33) 1,237 (36.7) 68.5 (1.60) 177 (17.9) 55.5 (4.33) 222 (20.5) 57.9 (4.18) 58.6 (2.43)
20074  2,955 (42.6) 2,043 (29.9) 416 (20.6) 355 (22.3) 1,986 (47.0) 67.2 (1.26) 1,421 (36.8) 69.5 (1.49) 232 (19.5) 55.7 (3.78) 227 (20.7) 64.0 (4.22)
— Not available.
†Not applicable.
1 Individuals ages 16 to 24 who graduated from high school or completed a GED during the preceding 12 months.
2 Enrollment in college as of October of each year for individuals ages 16 to 24 who completed high school during the preceding 12 months.
3 Due to the small sample size, data are subject to relatively large sampling errors. A 3-year moving average is an arithmetic average of the year indicated, the year immediately preceding, and the year immediately following. Moving averages are used to produce more stable estimates.
4 White and Black data exclude persons identifying themselves as more than one race.
NOTE: High school completion data in this table differ from figures appearing in other tables because of varying survey procedures and coverage. High school completers include GED recipients. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Total includes persons of other racial/ethnic groups not separately shown. Standard errors appear in parentheses.
SOURCE: American College Testing Program, unpublished tabulations, derived from statistics collected by the Census Bureau, 1960 through 1969. U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October, 1970 through 2007. (This table was prepared July 2008.)

2008 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest