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Digest of Education Statistics
2013 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest


Table 219.76. Population 16 through 24 years old and number of 16- to 24-year-old high school dropouts (status dropouts), by income level, labor force status, and years of school completed: 1970 through 2012
[Standard errors appear in parentheses]
Year Population 16 through 24 years old (in thousands),
by family income quartile
Number of 16- to 24-year-old (status) dropouts (in thousands)
By family income quartile By labor force status By years of school completed
Total1 Lowest
quartile
Middle low
quartile
Middle high
quartile
Highest
quartile
Total1 Lowest
quartile
Middle low
quartile
Middle high
quartile
Highest
quartile
Total Employed2 Unemployed Not in
labor force
Total Less than 9 years 9 years 10 years 11 or 12 years
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
1970 30,240 (260.6) 4,849 (112.2) 8,150 (144.2) 8,346 (145.8) 8,896 (150.3) 4,524 (108.5) 1,359 (59.9) 1,725 (67.5) 979 (50.9) 461 (35.0) 4,525 (108.5) 2,254 (76.7) 466 (35.2) 1,805 (53.1) 4,525 (108.5) 1,292 (58.5) 933 (49.7) 1,212 (56.6) 1,087 (53.7)
1971 31,530 (265.1) 5,200 (116.1) 8,391 (146.2) 8,434 (146.6) 9,505 (155.1) 4,640 (109.8) 1,500 (62.9) 1,734 (67.6) 923 (49.4) 483 (35.8) 4,641 (109.8) 2,299 (77.4) 505 (36.6) 1,837 (53.6) 4,641 (109.8) 1,295 (58.5) 1,006 (51.6) 1,288 (58.4) 1,051 (52.8)
1972 32,627 (268.7) 5,600 (120.3) 8,620 (148.1) 8,861 (150.0) 9,545 (155.4) 4,764 (111.2) 1,546 (63.9) 1,794 (68.8) 904 (49.0) 519 (37.1) 4,770 (111.3) 2,442 (79.7) 488 (36.0) 1,840 (53.6) 4,770 (111.3) 1,310 (58.8) 994 (51.3) 1,383 (60.5) 1,084 (53.6)
1973 33,413 (271.3) 5,725 (121.6) 8,807 (149.6) 9,043 (151.5) 9,839 (157.7) 4,713 (110.6) 1,605 (65.1) 1,724 (67.4) 898 (48.8) 485 (35.9) 4,716 (110.7) 2,511 (80.9) 436 (34.0) 1,769 (52.6) 4,716 (110.7) 1,248 (57.5) 985 (51.1) 1,292 (58.5) 1,191 (56.1)
1974 33,968 (273.1) (†) (†) (†) (†) 4,849 (112.2) (†) (†) (†) (†) 4,849 (112.2) 2,514 (80.9) 595 (39.7) 1,741 (52.2) 4,849 (112.2) 1,234 (57.1) 975 (50.8) 1,390 (60.6) 1,251 (57.5)
                                                                             
1975 34,687 (275.3) 6,144 (125.9) 8,868 (150.1) 9,128 (152.2) 10,547 (162.9) 4,821 (111.9) 1,769 (68.3) 1,596 (64.9) 930 (49.6) 526 (37.4) 4,824 (111.9) 2,220 (76.1) 751 (44.6) 1,853 (53.8) 4,824 (111.9) 1,134 (54.8) 1,018 (51.9) 1,329 (59.3) 1,344 (59.6)
1976 35,198 (276.9) 6,641 (130.7) 8,710 (148.8) 9,014 (151.3) 10,833 (165.0) 4,976 (113.6) 1,867 (70.2) 1,670 (66.4) 912 (49.2) 526 (37.4) 4,981 (113.7) 2,432 (79.6) 795 (45.9) 1,754 (52.4) 4,981 (113.7) 1,213 (56.6) 999 (51.4) 1,385 (60.5) 1,384 (60.5)
1977 35,639 (278.2) 6,576 (130.0) 8,953 (150.8) 9,262 (153.2) 10,848 (165.1) 5,027 (114.2) 1,871 (70.2) 1,698 (66.9) 967 (50.6) 491 (36.1) 5,031 (114.2) 2,660 (83.2) 682 (42.5) 1,689 (51.4) 5,031 (114.2) 1,224 (56.9) 1,093 (53.8) 1,374 (60.3) 1,340 (59.5)
1978 35,903 (279.0) 6,596 (130.2) 8,788 (149.5) 9,319 (153.7) 11,199 (167.6) 5,112 (115.1) 1,863 (70.1) 1,659 (66.2) 974 (50.8) 616 (40.4) 5,114 (115.1) 2,776 (85.0) 635 (41.1) 1,702 (51.6) 5,114 (115.1) 1,171 (55.7) 1,030 (52.2) 1,442 (61.7) 1,471 (62.3)
1979 36,105 (279.6) 6,782 (132.0) 8,843 (149.9) 9,518 (155.2) 10,961 (165.9) 5,253 (116.6) 1,904 (70.9) 1,633 (65.7) 1,096 (53.9) 619 (40.5) 5,265 (116.8) 2,843 (86.0) 668 (42.1) 1,753 (52.3) 5,265 (116.8) 1,191 (56.1) 1,107 (54.1) 1,505 (63.1) 1,461 (62.1)
                                                                             
1980 36,117 (279.7) 6,978 (133.8) 8,643 (148.3) 9,304 (153.6) 11,192 (167.6) 5,084 (114.8) 1,886 (70.5) 1,568 (64.3) 993 (51.3) 637 (41.1) 5,085 (114.8) 2,563 (81.7) 865 (47.9) 1,657 (50.9) 5,085 (114.8) 1,199 (56.3) 1,000 (51.5) 1,515 (63.3) 1,371 (60.2)
1981 36,929 (282.1) 7,120 (135.1) 9,221 (152.9) 9,289 (153.4) 11,299 (168.3) 5,140 (115.4) 1,880 (70.4) 1,640 (65.8) 1,032 (52.3) 588 (39.5) 5,143 (115.4) 2,559 (81.6) 943 (50.0) 1,641 (50.7) 5,143 (115.4) 1,250 (57.5) 956 (50.3) 1,554 (64.1) 1,382 (60.5)
1982 36,431 (296.5) 7,417 (145.6) 8,802 (158.0) 9,150 (161.0) 11,062 (176.1) 5,045 (120.8) 2,019 (77.1) 1,612 (68.9) 929 (52.4) 484 (37.9) 5,055 (121.0) 2,285 (81.5) 1,067 (56.1) 1,704 (54.5) 5,055 (121.0) 1,155 (58.4) 1,053 (55.8) 1,454 (65.5) 1,393 (64.1)
1983 35,869 (294.7) 7,518 (146.6) 8,640 (156.6) 8,826 (158.2) 10,886 (174.7) 4,901 (119.2) 1,993 (76.6) 1,536 (67.3) 931 (52.5) 441 (36.2) 4,905 (119.2) 2,375 (83.1) 890 (51.3) 1,640 (53.5) 4,905 (119.2) 1,130 (57.8) 947 (52.9) 1,414 (64.6) 1,414 (64.6)
1984 35,184 (292.5) 7,606 (147.4) 8,371 (154.3) 8,895 (158.8) 10,312 (170.3) 4,620 (115.8) 1,967 (76.1) 1,380 (63.8) 879 (51.0) 395 (34.2) 4,626 (115.8) 2,301 (81.8) 802 (48.7) 1,524 (51.6) 4,626 (115.8) 1,091 (56.8) 991 (54.1) 1,274 (61.3) 1,270 (61.2)
                                                                             
1985 34,368 (289.8) 7,451 (145.9) 8,098 (151.9) 8,369 (154.3) 10,450 (171.4) 4,324 (112.1) 2,016 (77.0) 1,194 (59.4) 697 (45.4) 417 (35.1) 4,324 (112.1) 2,165 (79.4) 756 (47.3) 1,403 (49.5) 4,324 (112.1) 1,032 (55.2) 910 (51.9) 1,205 (59.7) 1,178 (59.0)
1986 33,926 (288.4) 7,645 (147.7) 8,016 (151.1) 8,436 (154.9) 9,829 (166.5) 4,130 (109.6) 1,941 (75.6) 1,183 (59.1) 673 (44.7) 333 (31.4) 4,142 (109.8) 2,117 (78.5) 678 (44.8) 1,347 (48.5) 4,142 (109.8) 1,052 (55.8) 893 (51.4) 1,063 (56.1) 1,135 (57.9)
1987 33,437 (286.7) 7,467 (146.1) 8,007 (151.0) 8,016 (151.1) 9,947 (167.5) 4,229 (110.9) 1,903 (74.8) 1,325 (62.6) 642 (43.6) 358 (32.6) 4,230 (110.9) 2,218 (80.4) 574 (41.2) 1,439 (50.1) 4,230 (110.9) 1,094 (56.9) 874 (50.8) 1,099 (57.0) 1,163 (58.6)
1988 32,883 (310.4) 7,529 (159.8) 7,780 (162.3) 7,827 (162.8) 9,747 (180.7) 4,227 (120.8) 2,051 (84.6) 1,199 (64.8) 644 (47.6) 334 (34.3) 4,232 (120.9) 2,238 (88.0) 1,370 (69.3) 624 (36.1) 4,232 (120.9) 1,221 (65.4) 815 (53.5) 1,063 (61.1) 1,133 (63.1)
1989 31,991 (291.8) 7,317 (149.8) 7,438 (151.0) 7,968 (156.1) 9,269 (167.8) 4,036 (112.3) 1,826 (76.0) 1,208 (61.9) 694 (47.0) 307 (31.3) 4,038 (112.3) 2,150 (82.0) 557 (42.1) 1,331 (50.0) 4,038 (112.3) 1,186 (61.3) 838 (51.6) 1,003 (56.4) 1,011 (56.6)
                                                                             
1990 31,420 (289.7) 6,961 (146.3) 7,671 (153.3) 7,860 (155.1) 8,927 (164.8) 3,793 (108.9) 1,693 (73.1) 1,159 (60.6) 682 (46.6) 258 (28.7) 3,797 (108.9) 1,992 (78.9) 506 (40.1) 1,299 (49.4) 3,797 (108.9) 1,087 (58.7) 792 (50.1) 926 (54.2) 992 (56.1)
1991 31,163 (288.7) 7,152 (148.2) 7,595 (152.5) 7,554 (152.1) 8,862 (164.2) 3,876 (110.1) 1,855 (76.5) 1,174 (61.0) 584 (43.1) 264 (29.0) 3,881 (110.1) 1,844 (76.0) 612 (44.1) 1,424 (51.7) 3,881 (110.1) 1,108 (59.3) 795 (50.3) 1,012 (56.7) 965 (55.3)
19923 30,931 (287.9) 7,235 (149.0) 7,430 (150.9) 7,461 (151.2) 8,805 (163.7) 3,409 (103.3) 1,692 (73.1) 958 (55.1) 548 (41.7) 211 (25.9) 3,410 (103.4) 1,623 (71.3) 511 (40.3) 1,277 (48.9) 3,410 (103.4) 736 (48.3) 598 (43.6) 833 (51.4) 1,243 (62.8)
19933 30,820 (287.4) 7,494 (151.6) 7,341 (150.1) 7,426 (150.9) 8,559 (161.5) 3,386 (103.0) 1,714 (73.6) 935 (54.5) 491 (39.5) 246 (28.0) 3,396 (103.1) 1,653 (72.0) 435 (37.2) 1,308 (49.5) 3,396 (103.1) 697 (47.0) 564 (42.3) 819 (51.0) 1,316 (64.6)
19943 32,548 (293.8) 7,184 (148.5) 7,601 (152.6) 8,427 (160.3) 9,336 (168.3) 3,718 (107.8) 1,488 (68.6) 1,043 (57.5) 731 (48.2) 455 (38.1) 3,727 (108.0) 1,845 (76.0) 485 (39.3) 1,397 (51.2) 3,727 (108.0) 892 (53.2) 604 (43.8) 755 (49.0) 1,474 (68.3)
                                                                             
19953 32,362 (293.2) 8,052 (156.9) 7,563 (152.2) 7,707 (153.6) 9,040 (165.8) 3,876 (110.1) 1,869 (76.8) 1,043 (57.5) 636 (45.0) 328 (32.3) 3,876 (110.1) 1,894 (77.0) 549 (41.8) 1,433 (51.8) 3,876 (110.1) 861 (52.3) 659 (45.8) 872 (52.6) 1,484 (68.5)
19963 32,429 (304.6) 7,775 (160.1) 7,790 (160.3) 7,746 (159.9) 9,118 (172.8) 3,602 (110.2) 1,707 (76.2) 1,062 (60.3) 542 (43.1) 291 (31.6) 3,611 (110.3) 1,709 (76.0) 541 (43.1) 1,360 (52.4) 3,611 (110.3) 735 (50.1) 639 (46.8) 814 (52.8) 1,423 (69.7)
19973 32,930 (306.4) 8,054 (162.9) 7,881 (161.2) 7,682 (159.2) 9,313 (174.5) 3,619 (110.5) 1,756 (77.3) 1,066 (60.4) 479 (40.5) 317 (33.0) 3,624 (110.6) 1,933 (80.7) 478 (40.5) 1,214 (49.5) 3,624 (110.6) 721 (49.7) 567 (44.1) 809 (52.6) 1,527 (72.2)
19983 33,423 (308.3) 8,088 (163.2) 7,921 (161.6) 8,251 (164.8) 9,163 (173.2) 3,940 (115.2) 1,800 (78.3) 1,183 (63.6) 638 (46.7) 319 (33.1) 3,942 (115.2) 2,174 (85.6) 405 (37.3) 1,363 (52.5) 3,942 (115.2) 829 (53.3) 589 (44.9) 843 (53.7) 1,681 (75.7)
19993 34,136 (310.8) 7,973 (162.1) 7,990 (162.2) 8,472 (166.9) 9,700 (177.9) 3,822 (113.5) 1,676 (75.6) 1,141 (62.4) 630 (46.5) 376 (35.9) 3,829 (113.6) 2,129 (84.7) 382 (36.2) 1,318 (51.6) 3,829 (113.6) 851 (54.0) 623 (46.2) 861 (54.3) 1,494 (71.4)
                                                                             
20003 34,534 (312.2) 8,004 (162.4) 8,321 (165.4) 8,598 (168.0) 9,611 (177.2) 3,771 (112.7) 1,657 (75.1) 1,064 (60.3) 713 (49.4) 336 (34.0) 3,776 (112.8) 2,149 (85.1) 463 (39.8) 1,163 (48.5) 3,776 (112.8) 814 (52.8) 578 (44.5) 873 (54.7) 1,511 (71.8)
20013 35,138 (298.4) 7,910 (153.3) 8,390 (157.6) 8,730 (160.6) 10,108 (172.2) 3,755 (106.8) 1,524 (68.4) 1,124 (58.8) 785 (49.2) 321 (31.5) 3,766 (106.9) 2,195 (81.6) 559 (41.5) 1,011 (42.9) 3,766 (106.9) 694 (46.3) 634 (44.2) 897 (52.6) 1,540 (68.8)
20023 35,471 (299.5) 8,414 (157.9) 8,198 (155.9) 9,006 (163.1) 9,852 (170.1) 3,718 (106.3) 1,582 (69.7) 1,005 (55.6) 754 (48.2) 376 (34.1) 3,721 (106.3) 2,136 (80.9) 496 (39.1) 1,088 (57.9) 3,721 (106.3) 849 (51.1) 636 (44.3) 791 (49.4) 1,445 (66.6)
20033 35,991 (301.2) 8,290 (156.7) 8,651 (160.0) 8,902 (162.2) 10,148 (172.5) 3,550 (103.9) 1,618 (70.5) 937 (53.7) 654 (44.9) 341 (32.4) 3,552 (103.9) 1,899 (76.3) 486 (38.7) 1,167 (59.9) 3,552 (103.9) 752 (48.2) 646 (44.6) 734 (47.6) 1,420 (66.1)
20043 36,504 (302.8) 8,685 (160.3) 8,629 (159.8) 8,904 (162.2) 10,285 (173.6) 3,766 (106.9) 1,565 (69.3) 1,097 (58.1) 726 (47.3) 377 (34.1) 3,766 (106.9) 1,996 (78.2) 539 (40.8) 1,231 (61.5) 3,766 (106.9) 804 (49.8) 599 (43.0) 846 (51.1) 1,516 (68.2)
                                                                             
20053 36,761 (303.6) 8,650 (159.9) 8,441 (158.1) 9,237 (165.0) 10,433 (174.8) 3,458 (102.5) 1,548 (68.9) 970 (54.7) 656 (45.0) 284 (29.6) 3,458 (102.5) 1,968 (77.3) 410 (35.6) 1,080 (44.4) 3,458 (102.5) 652 (44.8) 582 (42.4) 740 (47.8) 1,483 (67.5)
20063 37,047 (304.5) 8,628 (159.8) 8,772 (161.0) 9,060 (163.5) 10,587 (176.0) 3,462 (102.6) 1,425 (66.2) 1,062 (57.2) 574 (42.1) 400 (35.2) 3,462 (102.6) 1,951 (77.0) 404 (35.3) 1,107 (44.9) 3,462 (102.6) 764 (48.5) 464 (37.9) 716 (47.0) 1,518 (68.3)
20073 37,480 (305.9) 8,389 (157.6) 8,698 (160.4) 9,656 (168.5) 10,736 (177.2) 3,278 (99.9) 1,398 (65.6) 916 (53.1) 622 (43.8) 342 (32.5) 3,278 (99.9) 1,819 (74.3) 367 (33.7) 1,092 (44.6) 3,278 (99.9) 695 (46.3) 555 (41.4) 750 (48.1) 1,278 (62.7)
20083 37,569 (306.2) 8,638 (159.8) 8,996 (163.0) 9,555 (167.7) 10,380 (174.4) 3,010 (95.8) 1,418 (66.0) 849 (51.2) 517 (40.0) 226 (26.4) 3,010 (95.8) 1,410 (65.5) 491 (38.9) 1,109 (45.0) 3,010 (95.8) 552 (41.3) 459 (37.6) 716 (47.0) 1,283 (62.8)
20093 37,616 (306.3) 8,750 (160.8) 9,138 (164.2) 9,504 (167.3) 10,223 (173.1) 3,030 (96.1) 1,382 (65.2) 884 (52.2) 511 (39.7) 253 (28.0) 3,030 (96.1) 1,308 (63.1) 603 (43.1) 1,119 (45.2) 3,030 (96.1) 537 (40.7) 413 (35.7) 738 (47.7) 1,342 (64.2)
                                                                             
20103,4 37,949 (#) 9,175 (195.6) 9,370 (190.7) 9,359 (189.8) 10,045 (180.9) 2,816 (100.8) 1,264 (81.3) 833 (52.8) 474 (47.4) 246 (31.5) 2,816 (100.8) 1,290 (69.8) 527 (38.4) 999 (62.1) 2,816 (100.8) 542 (49.7) 368 (31.2) 634 (44.8) 1,272 (74.3)
20113,4 38,205 (133.8) 9,192 (194.2) 9,286 (180.9) 9,373 (204.0) 10,355 (202.5) 2,714 (99.1) 1,192 (68.7) 833 (52.0) 453 (43.5) 236 (33.1) 2,714 (99.1) 1,351 (71.1) 436 (39.2) 927 (55.3) 2,714 (99.1) 492 (52.8) 350 (34.0) 576 (41.3) 1,295 (65.8)
20123,4 38,800 (306.3) 9,899 (212.2) 9,235 (209.4) 9,305 (210.5) 10,360 (208.2) 2,562 (101.1) 1,172 (74.3) 807 (64.2) 385 (42.6) 199 (31.8) 2,562 (101.1) 1,148 (69.5) 464 (44.6) 950 (56.2) 2,562 (101.1) 468 (50.5) 262 (33.7) 561 (42.4) 1,271 (74.4)
—Not available.
†Not applicable.
#Rounds to zero.
1Because income data were not available for some respondents, totals by income for some years may differ from totals appearing elsewhere in this table or in other tables.
2Includes persons who were employed but not at work during the survey week.
3Because of changes in data collection procedures, data may not be comparable with figures for years prior to 1992.
4Beginning in 2010, standard errors were computed using replicate weights, which produced more precise values than the methodology used in prior years.
NOTE: "Status" dropouts are 16- to 24-year-olds who are not enrolled in school and who have not completed a high school program, regardless of when they left school. People who have received GED credentials are counted as high school completers. Data are based on sample surveys of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, which excludes persons in prisons, persons in the military, and other persons not living in households. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October, 1970 through 2012. (This table was prepared January 2014.)

2013 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest