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Digest of Education Statistics
2015 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest


Table 219.76. Population 16 to 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 2014
[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)
Total status dropouts By family income quartile2 By labor force status3 By years of school completed
Total1 Lowest
quartile
Middle low
quartile
Middle high
quartile
Highest
quartile
Lowest
quartile
Middle low
quartile
Middle high
quartile
Highest
quartile
Employed4 Unemployed Not in
labor force
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
1970 30,240 (260.6) 4,849 (112.2) 8,150 (144.2) 8,346 (145.8) 8,896 (150.3) 4,525 (108.5) 1,359 (59.9) 1,725 (67.5) 979 (50.9) 461 (35.0) 2,254 (76.7) 466 (35.2) 1,805 (53.1) 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) 4,641 (109.8) 1,500 (62.9) 1,734 (67.6) 923 (49.4) 483 (35.8) 2,299 (77.4) 505 (36.6) 1,837 (53.6) 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) 4,770 (111.3) 1,546 (63.9) 1,794 (68.8) 904 (49.0) 519 (37.1) 2,442 (79.7) 488 (36.0) 1,840 (53.6) 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) 4,716 (110.7) 1,605 (65.1) 1,724 (67.4) 898 (48.8) 485 (35.9) 2,511 (80.9) 436 (34.0) 1,769 (52.6) 1,248 (57.5) 985 (51.1) 1,292 (58.5) 1,191 (56.1)
1974 33,968 (273.1) (†) (†) (†) (†) 4,849 (112.2) (†) (†) (†) (†) 2,514 (80.9) 595 (39.7) 1,741 (52.2) 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) 4,824 (111.9) 1,769 (68.3) 1,596 (64.9) 930 (49.6) 526 (37.4) 2,220 (76.1) 751 (44.6) 1,853 (53.8) 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) 4,981 (113.7) 1,867 (70.2) 1,670 (66.4) 912 (49.2) 526 (37.4) 2,432 (79.6) 795 (45.9) 1,754 (52.4) 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) 5,031 (114.2) 1,871 (70.2) 1,698 (66.9) 967 (50.6) 491 (36.1) 2,660 (83.2) 682 (42.5) 1,689 (51.4) 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) 5,114 (115.1) 1,863 (70.1) 1,659 (66.2) 974 (50.8) 616 (40.4) 2,776 (85.0) 635 (41.1) 1,702 (51.6) 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) 5,265 (116.8) 1,904 (70.9) 1,633 (65.7) 1,096 (53.9) 619 (40.5) 2,843 (86.0) 668 (42.1) 1,753 (52.3) 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) 5,085 (114.8) 1,886 (70.5) 1,568 (64.3) 993 (51.3) 637 (41.1) 2,563 (81.7) 865 (47.9) 1,657 (50.9) 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) 5,143 (115.4) 1,880 (70.4) 1,640 (65.8) 1,032 (52.3) 588 (39.5) 2,559 (81.6) 943 (50.0) 1,641 (50.7) 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) 5,055 (121.0) 2,019 (77.1) 1,612 (68.9) 929 (52.4) 484 (37.9) 2,285 (81.5) 1,067 (56.1) 1,704 (54.5) 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) 4,905 (119.2) 1,993 (76.6) 1,536 (67.3) 931 (52.5) 441 (36.2) 2,375 (83.1) 890 (51.3) 1,640 (53.5) 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) 4,626 (115.8) 1,967 (76.1) 1,380 (63.8) 879 (51.0) 395 (34.2) 2,301 (81.8) 802 (48.7) 1,524 (51.6) 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) 2,165 (79.4) 756 (47.3) 1,403 (49.5) 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) 4,142 (109.8) 1,941 (75.6) 1,183 (59.1) 673 (44.7) 333 (31.4) 2,117 (78.5) 678 (44.8) 1,347 (48.5) 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) 4,230 (110.9) 1,903 (74.8) 1,325 (62.6) 642 (43.6) 358 (32.6) 2,218 (80.4) 574 (41.2) 1,439 (50.1) 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) 4,232 (120.9) 2,051 (84.6) 1,199 (64.8) 644 (47.6) 334 (34.3) 2,238 (88.0) 1,370 (69.3) 624 (36.1) 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) 4,038 (112.3) 1,826 (76.0) 1,208 (61.9) 694 (47.0) 307 (31.3) 2,150 (82.0) 557 (42.1) 1,331 (50.0) 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) 3,797 (108.9) 1,693 (73.1) 1,159 (60.6) 682 (46.6) 258 (28.7) 1,992 (78.9) 506 (40.1) 1,299 (49.4) 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) 3,881 (110.1) 1,855 (76.5) 1,174 (61.0) 584 (43.1) 264 (29.0) 1,844 (76.0) 612 (44.1) 1,424 (51.7) 1,108 (59.3) 795 (50.3) 1,012 (56.7) 965 (55.3)
19925  30,931 (287.9) 7,235 (149.0) 7,430 (150.9) 7,461 (151.2) 8,805 (163.7) 3,410 (103.4) 1,692 (73.1) 958 (55.1) 548 (41.7) 211 (25.9) 1,623 (71.3) 511 (40.3) 1,277 (48.9) 736 (48.3) 598 (43.6) 833 (51.4) 1,243 (62.8)
19935  30,820 (287.4) 7,494 (151.6) 7,341 (150.1) 7,426 (150.9) 8,559 (161.5) 3,396 (103.1) 1,714 (73.6) 935 (54.5) 491 (39.5) 246 (28.0) 1,653 (72.0) 435 (37.2) 1,308 (49.5) 697 (47.0) 564 (42.3) 819 (51.0) 1,316 (64.6)
19955  32,548 (293.8) 7,184 (148.5) 7,601 (152.6) 8,427 (160.3) 9,336 (168.3) 3,727 (108.0) 1,488 (68.6) 1,043 (57.5) 731 (48.2) 455 (38.1) 1,845 (76.0) 485 (39.3) 1,397 (51.2) 892 (53.2) 604 (43.8) 755 (49.0) 1,474 (68.3)
                                                                     
19955  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) 1,894 (77.0) 549 (41.8) 1,433 (51.8) 861 (52.3) 659 (45.8) 872 (52.6) 1,484 (68.5)
19965  32,429 (304.6) 7,775 (160.1) 7,790 (160.3) 7,746 (159.9) 9,118 (172.8) 3,611 (110.3) 1,707 (76.2) 1,062 (60.3) 542 (43.1) 291 (31.6) 1,709 (76.0) 541 (43.1) 1,360 (52.4) 735 (50.1) 639 (46.8) 814 (52.8) 1,423 (69.7)
19975  32,930 (306.4) 8,054 (162.9) 7,881 (161.2) 7,682 (159.2) 9,313 (174.5) 3,624 (110.6) 1,756 (77.3) 1,066 (60.4) 479 (40.5) 317 (33.0) 1,933 (80.7) 478 (40.5) 1,214 (49.5) 721 (49.7) 567 (44.1) 809 (52.6) 1,527 (72.2)
19985  33,423 (308.3) 8,088 (163.2) 7,921 (161.6) 8,251 (164.8) 9,163 (173.2) 3,942 (115.2) 1,800 (78.3) 1,183 (63.6) 638 (46.7) 319 (33.1) 2,174 (85.6) 405 (37.3) 1,363 (52.5) 829 (53.3) 589 (44.9) 843 (53.7) 1,681 (75.7)
19995  34,136 (310.8) 7,973 (162.1) 7,990 (162.2) 8,472 (166.9) 9,700 (177.9) 3,829 (113.6) 1,676 (75.6) 1,141 (62.4) 630 (46.5) 376 (35.9) 2,129 (84.7) 382 (36.2) 1,318 (51.6) 851 (54.0) 623 (46.2) 861 (54.3) 1,494 (71.4)
                                                                     
20005  34,534 (312.2) 8,004 (162.4) 8,321 (165.4) 8,598 (168.0) 9,611 (177.2) 3,776 (112.8) 1,657 (75.1) 1,064 (60.3) 713 (49.4) 336 (34.0) 2,149 (85.1) 463 (39.8) 1,163 (48.5) 814 (52.8) 578 (44.5) 873 (54.7) 1,511 (71.8)
20015  35,138 (298.4) 7,910 (153.3) 8,390 (157.6) 8,730 (160.6) 10,108 (172.2) 3,766 (106.9) 1,524 (68.4) 1,124 (58.8) 785 (49.2) 321 (31.5) 2,195 (81.6) 559 (41.5) 1,011 (42.9) 694 (46.3) 634 (44.2) 897 (52.6) 1,540 (68.8)
20025  35,471 (299.5) 8,414 (157.9) 8,198 (155.9) 9,006 (163.1) 9,852 (170.1) 3,721 (106.3) 1,582 (69.7) 1,005 (55.6) 754 (48.2) 376 (34.1) 2,136 (80.9) 496 (39.1) 1,088 (57.9) 849 (51.1) 636 (44.3) 791 (49.4) 1,445 (66.6)
20035  35,991 (301.2) 8,290 (156.7) 8,651 (160.0) 8,902 (162.2) 10,148 (172.5) 3,552 (103.9) 1,618 (70.5) 937 (53.7) 654 (44.9) 341 (32.4) 1,899 (76.3) 486 (38.7) 1,167 (59.9) 752 (48.2) 646 (44.6) 734 (47.6) 1,420 (66.1)
20055  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) 1,996 (78.2) 539 (40.8) 1,231 (61.5) 804 (49.8) 599 (43.0) 846 (51.1) 1,516 (68.2)
                                                                     
20055  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) 1,968 (77.3) 410 (35.6) 1,080 (44.4) 652 (44.8) 582 (42.4) 740 (47.8) 1,483 (67.5)
20065  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) 1,951 (77.0) 404 (35.3) 1,107 (44.9) 764 (48.5) 464 (37.9) 716 (47.0) 1,518 (68.3)
20075  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) 1,819 (74.3) 367 (33.7) 1,092 (44.6) 695 (46.3) 555 (41.4) 750 (48.1) 1,278 (62.7)
20085  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) 1,410 (65.5) 491 (38.9) 1,109 (45.0) 552 (41.3) 459 (37.6) 716 (47.0) 1,283 (62.8)
20095  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) 1,308 (63.1) 603 (43.1) 1,119 (45.2) 537 (40.7) 413 (35.7) 738 (47.7) 1,342 (64.2)
                                                                     
20105,6  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) 1,290 (69.8) 527 (38.4) 999 (62.1) 542 (49.7) 368 (31.2) 634 (44.8) 1,272 (74.3)
20115,6  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) 1,351 (71.1) 436 (39.2) 927 (55.3) 492 (52.8) 350 (34.0) 576 (41.3) 1,295 (65.8)
20125,6  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) 1,148 (69.5) 464 (44.6) 950 (56.2) 468 (50.5) 262 (33.7) 561 (42.4) 1,271 (74.4)
20135,6  38,804 (210.7) 9,477 (220.2) 8,977 (194.4) 9,666 (207.8) 10,684 (211.7) 2,622 (109.3) 1,015 (69.2) 790 (63.0) 480 (42.7) 337 (39.2) 1,079 (71.8) 441 (43.7) 1,103 (65.9) 480 (50.0) 348 (39.5) 552 (47.1) 1,242 (76.8)
20145,6  38,650 (67.1) 9,252 (197.4) 9,602 (192.4) 9,273 (209.8) 10,524 (200.7) 2,527 (94.9) 1,073 (62.5) 725 (56.0) 437 (40.0) 291 (33.6) 1,129 (62.8) 430 (39.3) 968 (54.6) 378 (43.6) 347 (36.8) 538 (45.7) 1,264 (59.5)
—Not available.
†Not applicable.
#Rounds to zero.
1 Because income data were not available for some respondents in some years, total by income quartile for some years may differ from totals appearing in other tables.
2 Because income data were not available for some respondents in some years, total by income quartile for some years may differ from total appearing in column 7 or in other tables.
3 Data are not comparable to unemployment data produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
4 Includes persons who were employed but not at work during the survey week.
5 Because of changes in data collection procedures, data may not be comparable with figures for years prior to 1992.
6 Beginning 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 2014. (This table was prepared August 2015.)

2015 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest