Figure 2. Status dropout rates of 16- through 24-year-olds, by race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2006

Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 2006

NCES 2008-053
September 2008

Figure 2. Status dropout rates of 16- through 24-year-olds, by race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2006

NOTE: The status dropout rate indicates the percentage of 16- through 24-year-olds who are not enrolled in high school and who lack a high school credential. High school credentials include high school diplomas and equivalent credentials, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Beginning in 2003, respondents were able to identify themselves as being more than one race. The 2003 through 2006 categories for White, non-Hispanic and Black, non-Hispanic contain only respondents who indicated just one race. The Hispanic category includes Hispanics of all races and racial combinations. Due to small sample sizes for some or all of the years shown in the figure, American Indians/Alaska Natives and Asians/Pacific Islanders are included in the totals but not shown separately. The “more than one race” category is also included in the total in 2003 through 2006 but not shown separately due to small sample size. The variable nature of the Hispanic status rates reflects, in part, the small sample size of Hispanics in the CPS. Estimates beginning with 1987 reflect new editing procedures for cases with missing data on school enrollment items. Estimates beginning with 1992 reflect new wording of the educational attainment item. Estimates beginning with 1994 reflect changes due to newly instituted computer-assisted interviewing. For details about changes in the CPS over time, please see Kaufman, P., Alt, M.N., and Chapman, C. (2004). Dropout Rates in the United States: 2001 (NCES 2005-046). U.S. Department of Education. National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October (1972–2006).

NOTE: The status dropout rate indicates the percentage of 16- through 24-year-olds who are not enrolled in high school and who lack a high school credential. High school credentials include high school diplomas and equivalent credentials, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Beginning in 2003, respondents were able to identify themselves as being more than one race. The 2003 through 2006 categories for White, non-Hispanic and Black, non-Hispanic contain only respondents who indicated just one race. The Hispanic category includes Hispanics of all races and racial combinations. Due to small sample sizes for some or all of the years shown in the figure, American Indians/Alaska Natives and Asians/Pacific Islanders are included in the totals but not shown separately. The “more than one race” category is also included in the total in 2003 through 2006 but not shown separately due to small sample size. The variable nature of the Hispanic status rates reflects, in part, the small sample size of Hispanics in the CPS. Estimates beginning with 1987 reflect new editing procedures for cases with missing data on school enrollment items. Estimates beginning with 1992 reflect new wording of the educational attainment item. Estimates beginning with 1994 reflect changes due to newly instituted computer-assisted interviewing. For details about changes in the CPS over time, please see Kaufman, P., Alt, M.N., and Chapman, C. (2004). Dropout Rates in the United States: 2001 (NCES 2005-046). U.S. Department of Education. National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October (1972–2006).

List of Figures