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

NCES 2011-012 December 2010

Table 7. Status dropout rates, number of status dropouts, and population of 16- through 24-year-olds: October 1972 through October 2008

Year1	Status dropout rate (percent)	Number of status dropouts (thousands)	Population (thousands)
1972	14.6	4,769	32,643
1973	14.1	4,717	33,430
1974	14.3	4,847	33,968
1975	13.9	4,823	34,700
1976	14.1	4,980	35,222
1977	14.1	5,031	35,658
1978	14.2	5,113	35,931
1979	14.6	5,264	36,131
1980	14.1	5,085	36,143
1981	13.9	5,143	36,945
1982	13.9	5,056	36,452
1983	13.7	4,905	35,884
1984	13.1	4,626	35,204
1985	12.6	4,325	34,382
1986	12.2	4,141	33,945
1987	12.7	4,252	33,452
1988	12.9	4,230	32,893
1989	12.6	4,038	32,007
1990	12.1	3,797	31,443
1991	12.5	3,881	31,171
1992	11.0	3,410	30,944
1993	11.0	3,396	30,845
1994	11.5	3,727	32,560
1995	12.0	3,876	32,379
1996	11.1	3,611	32,452
1997	11.0	3,624	32,960
1998	11.8	3,942	33,445
1999	11.2	3,829	34,173
2000	10.9	3,776	34,568
2001	10.7	3,774	35,195
2002	10.5	3,721	35,495
2003	9.9	3,552	36,017
2004	10.3	3,766	36,504
2005	9.4	3,458	36,761
2006	9.3	3,462	37,047
2007	8.7	3,278	37,480
2008	8.0	3,010	37,569
1 Estimates beginning in 1987 reflect new editing procedures for cases with missing data on school enrollment items. Estimates beginning in 1992 reflect new wording of the educational attainment item. Estimates beginning in 1994 reflect changes due to newly instituted computer-assisted interviewing. For details about changes in the Current Population Survey (CPS) over time, please see Kaufman, P., Alt, M.N., and Chapman, C. (2004). Dropout Rates in the United States: 2001 (NCES 2005-046). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC. 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. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.