Trends in High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 1972–2008

NCES 2011-012 December 2010

Table 6. Status dropout rates and number and distribution of dropouts of 16- through 24-year-olds, by selected characteristics: October 2008

Characteristic	Status dropout rate (percent)	Number of status dropouts (thousands)	Population (thousands)	Percent of all dropouts	Percent of population
Total	8.0	3,010	37,569	100.0	100.0
Sex
Male	8.5	1,606	18,948	53.4	50.4
Female	7.5	1,403	18,621	46.6	49.6
Race/ethnicity1
White, non-Hispanic	4.8	1,103	22,956	36.7	61.1
Black, non-Hispanic	9.9	535	5,387	17.8	14.3
Hispanic	18.3	1,232	6,721	40.9	17.9
Asian/Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic	4.4	67	1,504	2.2	4.0
American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic	14.6	43	294	1.4	0.8
Two or more races, non-Hispanic	4.2	30	706	1.0	1.9
Age
16	2.2	93	4,269	3.1	11.4
17	5.0	216	4,349	7.2	11.6
18	7.8	337	4,332	11.2	11.5
19	9.9	413	4,160	13.7	11.1
20–24	9.5	1,951	20,459	64.8	54.5
Recency of immigration
Born outside the 50 states and District of Columbia
Hispanic	32.8	766	2,334	25.4	6.2
Non-Hispanic	5.5	104	1,908	3.5	5.1
First generation2
Hispanic	10.5	254	2,419	8.4	6.4
Non-Hispanic	3.1	72	2,326	2.4	6.2
Second generation or higher2
Hispanic	10.8	213	1,968	7.1	5.2
Non-Hispanic	6.0	1,602	26,615	53.2	70.8
Region
Northeast	5.6	377	6,708	12.5	17.9
Midwest	7.5	631	8,414	21.0	22.4
South	8.8	1,191	13,496	39.6	35.9
West	9.1	811	8,949	27.0	23.8
1 Respondents were able to identify themselves as being two or more races. The White (non-Hispanic), Black (non-Hispanic), Asian/Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic), and American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic) categories consist of individuals who considered themselves to be one race and who did not identify as Hispanic. Non-Hispanics who identified themselves as multiracial are included in the Two or more races (non-Hispanic) category. The Hispanic category consists of Hispanics of all races and racial combinations. 2 Individuals defined as “first generation” were born in the 50 states or the District of Columbia, and one or both of their parents were born outside the 50 states or the District of Columbia. Individuals defined as “second generation or higher” were born in the 50 states or the District of Columbia, as were both of their parents. 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. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 2008.