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Digest of Education Statistics
2011 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest


Table 210. Recent high school completers and their enrollment in 2-year and 4-year colleges, by race/ethnicity: 1960 through 2010
[Numbers in thousands]
Year Number of high school completers1 Enrolled in college2
Total White Black3 His-
panic3
Total White Black3 Hispanic3
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Annual 3-year moving average4 Annual 3-year moving average4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
1960 1,679 (43.8) 1,565 (44.7) (†) (†) 758 (40.9) 45.1 (2.13) 717 (40.2) 45.8 (2.21) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1961 1,763 (46.0) 1,612 (46.9) (†) (†) 847 (42.9) 48.0 (2.09) 798 (42.2) 49.5 (2.19) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1962 1,838 (43.6) 1,660 (45.2) (†) (†) 900 (43.2) 49.0 (2.05) 840 (42.4) 50.6 (2.15) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1963 1,741 (44.2) 1,615 (45.2) (†) (†) 784 (41.5) 45.0 (2.09) 736 (40.7) 45.6 (2.17) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1964 2,145 (43.0) 1,964 (45.4) (†) (†) 1,037 (45.6) 48.3 (1.89) 967 (44.8) 49.2 (1.98) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
                                                         
1965 2,659 (47.7) 2,417 (50.6) (†) (†) 1,354 (51.4) 50.9 (1.70) 1,249 (50.4) 51.7 (1.78) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1966 2,612 (45.0) 2,403 (48.0) (†) (†) 1,309 (50.2) 50.1 (1.72) 1,243 (49.6) 51.7 (1.79) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1967 2,525 (37.9) 2,267 (40.3) (†) (†) 1,311 (40.9) 51.9 (1.42) 1,202 (40.1) 53.0 (1.50) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1968 2,606 (37.3) 2,303 (40.4) (†) (†) 1,444 (41.7) 55.4 (1.39) 1,304 (40.9) 56.6 (1.47) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1969 2,842 (36.0) 2,538 (39.8) (†) (†) 1,516 (42.5) 53.3 (1.34) 1,402 (42.0) 55.2 (1.41) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
                                                         
1970 2,758 (37.4) 2,461 (40.7) (†) (†) 1,427 (42.2) 51.7 (1.36) 1,280 (41.2) 52.0 (1.44) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1971 2,875 (38.0) 2,596 (41.1) (†) (†) 1,538 (43.2) 53.5 (1.33) 1,402 (42.5) 54.0 (1.40) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1972 2,964 (37.8) 2,520 (31.2) 316 (18.3) 101 (14.2) 1,459 (43.1) 49.2 (1.31) 1,252 (39.0) 49.7 (1.42) 141 (16.7) 44.6 (4.62) 38.4 (3.18) 46 (11.7) 45.0 (9.74) 49.9 (6.64)
1973 3,058 (37.1) 2,590 (30.8) 324 (18.5) 119 (13.7) 1,424 (43.0) 46.6 (1.29) 1,238 (39.2) 47.8 (1.40) 105 (15.2) 32.5 (4.30) 41.4 (2.62) 64 (13.0) 54.1 (9.01) 48.8 (5.33)
1974 3,101 (38.6) 2,620 (31.4) 325 (19.0) 121 (15.2) 1,475 (43.7) 47.6 (1.28) 1,236 (39.4) 47.2 (1.39) 154 (17.4) 47.2 (4.58) 40.5 (2.63) 57 (12.9) 46.9 (8.94) 53.1 (5.09)
                                                         
1975 3,185 (38.6) 2,701 (31.9) 302 (15.4) 132 (15.8) 1,615 (44.8) 50.7 (1.26) 1,381 (40.5) 51.1 (1.37) 126 (13.6) 41.7 (3.97) 44.5 (2.29) 77 (14.5) 58.0 (8.44) 52.7 (4.88)
1976 2,986 (39.8) 2,492 (33.1) 290 (15.8) 152 (16.2) 1,458 (43.6) 48.8 (1.31) 1,217 (39.1) 48.8 (1.43) 129 (13.8) 44.4 (4.08) 45.3 (2.30) 80 (14.8) 52.7 (7.97) 53.6 (4.68)
1977 3,141 (40.7) 2,618 (34.0) 325 (19.3) 155 (16.0) 1,590 (45.4) 50.6 (1.29) 1,331 (40.8) 50.8 (1.41) 161 (17.9) 49.5 (4.65) 46.8 (2.70) 79 (14.8) 50.8 (7.96) 48.8 (4.72)
1978 3,163 (39.7) 2,615 (33.7) 345 (18.4) 135 (15.3) 1,585 (45.2) 50.1 (1.28) 1,321 (40.6) 50.5 (1.41) 160 (17.7) 46.4 (4.51) 47.5 (2.67) 56 (13.0) 42.0 (8.44) 46.1 (4.69)
1979 3,160 (40.0) 2,629 (32.7) 319 (19.7) 155 (16.1) 1,559 (45.1) 49.3 (1.28) 1,313 (40.5) 49.9 (1.41) 149 (17.5) 46.7 (4.69) 45.2 (2.62) 70 (14.3) 45.0 (7.92) 46.3 (4.83)
                                                         
1980 3,088 (39.4) 2,554 (30.9) 350 (19.7) 130 (17.1) 1,523 (44.6) 49.3 (1.30) 1,273 (39.6) 49.8 (1.43) 149 (17.7) 42.7 (4.44) 44.0 (2.61) 68 (14.4) 52.3 (8.70) 49.6 (4.78)
1981 3,056 (42.2) 2,490 (34.1) 349 (20.5) 146 (17.6) 1,648 (45.8) 53.9 (1.30) 1,367 (40.5) 54.9 (1.44) 149 (17.8) 42.7 (4.44) 40.3 (2.50) 76 (15.1) 52.1 (8.19) 48.7 (4.68)
1982 3,100 (40.4) 2,474 (32.9) 382 (19.6) 173 (18.2) 1,569 (46.9) 50.6 (1.36) 1,303 (41.5) 52.7 (1.52) 137 (17.9) 35.8 (4.33) 38.8 (2.57) 75 (15.8) 43.2 (7.96) 49.4 (4.94)
1983 2,963 (41.6) 2,363 (33.1) 390 (21.1) 138 (17.8) 1,562 (46.7) 52.7 (1.39) 1,301 (40.9) 55.0 (1.55) 149 (18.7) 38.2 (4.34) 38.0 (2.47) 75 (15.7) 54.2 (8.96) 46.7 (4.72)
1984 3,012 (36.5) 2,331 (29.1) 433 (18.5) 187 (17.0) 1,663 (46.0) 55.2 (1.37) 1,375 (39.9) 59.0 (1.54) 172 (19.4) 39.8 (4.15) 39.9 (2.54) 83 (16.2) 44.3 (7.67) 49.3 (4.89)
                                                         
1985 2,668 (40.1) 2,104 (32.3) 332 (19.3) 141 (19.7) 1,540 (45.1) 57.7 (1.45) 1,264 (39.2) 60.1 (1.62) 140 (17.8) 42.2 (4.78) 39.5 (2.55) 72 (17.0) 51.0 (9.76) 46.1 (5.18)
1986 2,786 (38.6) 2,146 (30.3) 378 (18.4) 169 (21.7) 1,498 (45.0) 53.8 (1.43) 1,219 (38.8) 56.8 (1.62) 140 (17.9) 36.9 (4.38) 43.5 (2.71) 74 (17.7) 44.0 (8.85) 42.3 (5.20)
1987 2,647 (40.9) 2,040 (32.4) 333 (20.6) 176 (20.9) 1,503 (45.1) 56.8 (1.46) 1,195 (38.7) 58.6 (1.65) 174 (19.3) 52.2 (4.82) 44.2 (2.65) 59 (16.1) 33.5 (8.25) 45.0 (5.04)
1988 2,673 (47.0) 2,013 (37.9) 378 (22.3) 179 (26.6) 1,575 (50.3) 58.9 (1.57) 1,230 (42.9) 61.1 (1.79) 168 (21.1) 44.4 (4.91) 49.7 (2.98) 102 (23.6) 57.1 (10.14) 48.5 (5.99)
1989 2,450 (46.5) 1,889 (37.3) 332 (21.3) 168 (26.5) 1,460 (48.7) 59.6 (1.64) 1,147 (41.7) 60.7 (1.85) 177 (20.9) 53.4 (5.27) 48.0 (2.98) 93 (22.9) 55.1 (10.51) 52.7 (6.33)
                                                         
1990 2,362 (43.0) 1,819 (32.2) 331 (21.9) 121 (21.8) 1,420 (45.9) 60.1 (1.60) 1,147 (38.5) 63.0 (1.80) 155 (19.7) 46.8 (5.08) 48.9 (2.97) 52 (16.0) 42.7 (10.82) 52.5 (5.70)
1991 2,276 (41.0) 1,727 (30.3) 310 (20.2) 154 (23.5) 1,423 (44.8) 62.5 (1.62) 1,129 (37.2) 65.4 (1.82) 144 (18.8) 46.4 (5.25) 47.2 (2.93) 88 (19.9) 57.2 (9.58) 52.6 (5.52)
1992 2,397 (40.4) 1,724 (30.9) 354 (21.4) 198 (23.0) 1,483 (45.4) 61.9 (1.58) 1,109 (37.4) 64.3 (1.84) 171 (20.2) 48.2 (4.92) 50.0 (2.98) 109 (21.0) 55.0 (8.50) 58.2 (5.04)
1993 2,342 (41.4) 1,719 (32.6) 304 (20.4) 201 (23.1) 1,467 (45.4) 62.6 (1.59) 1,082 (37.9) 62.9 (1.85) 169 (19.6) 55.6 (5.28) 51.3 (2.97) 125 (21.9) 62.2 (8.22) 55.7 (4.97)
1994 2,517 (38.1) 1,915 (27.0) 316 (17.9) 178 (17.3) 1,559 (43.0) 61.9 (1.43) 1,236 (35.5) 64.5 (1.61) 161 (16.7) 50.8 (4.42) 52.4 (2.52) 87 (14.0) 49.1 (6.28) 55.0 (3.23)
                                                         
1995 2,599 (40.9) 1,861 (30.1) 349 (19.2) 288 (19.4) 1,610 (44.5) 61.9 (1.41) 1,197 (36.1) 64.3 (1.64) 179 (17.6) 51.2 (4.20) 52.9 (2.40) 155 (17.6) 53.7 (4.92) 51.6 (3.18)
1996 2,660 (40.5) 1,875 (30.8) 406 (17.3) 227 (18.9) 1,729 (46.1) 65.0 (1.42) 1,264 (37.5) 67.4 (1.67) 227 (19.0) 56.0 (4.03) 55.4 (2.41) 115 (16.3) 50.8 (5.79) 57.6 (2.96)
1997 2,769 (41.8) 1,909 (31.8) 384 (19.2) 336 (19.0) 1,856 (47.3) 67.0 (1.38) 1,301 (38.1) 68.2 (1.64) 225 (19.4) 58.5 (4.12) 58.8 (2.35) 220 (19.7) 65.6 (4.53) 55.3 (2.93)
1998 2,810 (43.9) 1,980 (33.0) 386 (20.2) 314 (20.8) 1,844 (48.3) 65.6 (1.38) 1,357 (39.0) 68.5 (1.61) 239 (20.0) 61.9 (4.05) 59.8 (2.31) 149 (18.3) 47.4 (4.92) 51.9 (2.79)
1999 2,897 (41.5) 1,978 (31.8) 436 (15.2) 329 (20.9) 1,822 (47.8) 62.9 (1.38) 1,311 (38.6) 66.3 (1.64) 257 (19.1) 58.9 (3.86) 58.6 (2.31) 139 (18.0) 42.3 (4.76) 47.4 (2.84)
                                                         
2000 2,756 (45.3) 1,938 (32.9) 393 (20.0) 300 (22.4) 1,745 (48.4) 63.3 (1.41) 1,272 (38.8) 65.7 (1.66) 216 (19.5) 54.9 (4.11) 56.4 (2.33) 159 (19.2) 52.9 (5.03) 48.6 (2.96)
2001 2,549 (46.5) 1,834 (34.8) 381 (20.3) 241 (21.1) 1,574 (47.5) 61.8 (1.48) 1,178 (38.7) 64.3 (1.72) 210 (19.4) 55.0 (4.17) 56.4 (2.39) 124 (17.4) 51.7 (5.63) 52.8 (2.93)
2002 2,796 (42.7) 1,903 (31.3) 382 (19.1) 344 (21.6) 1,824 (46.1) 65.2 (1.31) 1,314 (36.5) 69.1 (1.55) 227 (18.7) 59.4 (3.90) 57.3 (2.33) 184 (19.2) 53.6 (4.46) 54.8 (2.75)
20035  2,677 (42.2) 1,832 (30.8) 327 (18.4) 314 (20.9) 1,711 (45.2) 63.9 (1.35) 1,213 (35.9) 66.2 (1.61) 188 (17.4) 57.5 (4.25) 59.9 (2.29) 184 (18.9) 58.6 (4.61) 57.7 (2.66)
20045  2,752 (40.0) 1,854 (30.9) 398 (15.5) 286 (19.9) 1,835 (44.9) 66.7 (1.31) 1,276 (36.1) 68.8 (1.57) 249 (17.9) 62.5 (3.77) 58.8 (2.34) 177 (18.4) 61.8 (4.76) 57.7 (2.60)
                                                         
20055  2,675 (40.8) 1,799 (30.5) 345 (16.6) 390 (20.6) 1,834 (44.8) 68.6 (1.31) 1,317 (35.4) 73.2 (1.52) 192 (17.1) 55.7 (4.15) 58.2 (2.35) 211 (19.7) 54.0 (4.18) 57.5 (2.52)
20065  2,692 (44.6) 1,805 (33.2) 318 (19.0) 382 (22.1) 1,776 (46.4) 66.0 (1.33) 1,237 (36.7) 68.5 (1.60) 177 (17.3) 55.5 (4.33) 55.6 (2.35) 222 (20.5) 57.9 (4.18) 58.5 (2.43)
20075  2,955 (42.6) 2,043 (29.9) 416 (17.6) 355 (22.3) 1,986 (47.0) 67.2 (1.26) 1,421 (36.8) 69.5 (1.49) 232 (18.5) 55.7 (3.78) 55.7 (2.27) 227 (20.7) 64.0 (4.22) 62.0 (2.33)
20085  3,151 (42.8) 2,091 (31.3) 416 (19.7) 458 (21.9) 2,161 (48.0) 68.6 (1.21) 1,499 (37.5) 71.7 (1.44) 232 (19.2) 55.7 (3.78) 60.3 (2.15) 292 (22.0) 63.9 (3.72) 62.3 (2.25)
20095  2,937 (45.0) 1,863 (31.6) 415 (19.1) 459 (24.4) 2,058 (48.0) 70.1 (1.23) 1,329 (36.3) 71.3 (1.53) 289 (19.7) 69.5 (3.51) 62.4 (2.09) 272 (22.6) 59.3 (3.80) 60.9 (2.14)
20105,6  3,160 (91.8) 1,937 (68.7) 461 (36.9) 507 (37.3) 2,152 (78.8) 68.1 (1.49) 1,365 (56.9) 70.5 (1.68) 286 (33.4) 62.0 (4.81) 65.6 (2.49) 302 (31.5) 59.7 (4.18) 59.5 (2.62)
—Not available.
†Not applicable.
1 Individuals ages 16 to 24 who graduated from high school or completed a GED during the preceding 12 months.
2 Enrollment in college as of October of each year for individuals ages 16 to 24 who completed high school during the preceding 12 months.
3 Due to the small sample size, data are subject to relatively large sampling errors.
4 A 3-year moving average is an arithmetic average of the year indicated, the year immediately preceding, and the year immediately following. For 1972 and 2010, a 2-year moving average is used: The moving average for 1972 reflects an average of 1972 and 1973 and the moving average for 2010 reflects an average of 2009 and 2010. Moving averages are used to produce more stable estimates.
5 White and Black data exclude persons identifying themselves as two or more races.
6 Beginning in 2010, standard errors were computed using replicate weights, which produced more precise values than the methodology used in prior years. For more information, see Appendix A: Guide to Sources.
NOTE: High school completion data in this table differ from figures appearing in other tables because of varying survey procedures and coverage. High school completers include GED recipients. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Total includes persons of other racial/ethnic groups not separately shown. Standard errors appear in parentheses.
SOURCE: American College Testing Program, unpublished tabulations, derived from statistics collected by the Census Bureau, 1960 through 1969. U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October, 1970 through 2010. (This table was prepared September 2011.)

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