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| 2013 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 219.75. | Percentage of high school dropouts among persons 16 through 24 years old (status dropout rate), by income level, and percentage distribution of status dropouts, by labor force status and years of school completed: 1970 through 2012 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Status dropout rate | Status dropout rate, by family income quartile |
Percentage distribution of status dropouts, by labor force status |
Percentage distribution of status dropouts, by years of school completed |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lowest quartile |
Middle low quartile |
Middle high quartile |
Highest quartile |
Total | Employed1 | Unemployed | Not in labor force |
Total | 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 | ||||||||||||||
| 1970 | 15.0 | (0.29) | 28.0 | (0.92) | 21.2 | (0.65) | 11.7 | (0.50) | 5.2 | (0.34) | 100.0 | (†) | 49.8 | (1.06) | 10.3 | (0.65) | 39.9 | (1.04) | 100.0 | (†) | 28.5 | (0.96) | 20.6 | (0.86) | 26.8 | (0.94) | 24.0 | (0.91) |
| 1971 | 14.7 | (0.28) | 28.8 | (0.90) | 20.7 | (0.63) | 10.9 | (0.49) | 5.1 | (0.32) | 100.0 | (†) | 49.5 | (1.05) | 10.9 | (0.65) | 39.6 | (1.02) | 100.0 | (†) | 27.9 | (0.94) | 21.7 | (0.86) | 27.8 | (0.94) | 22.7 | (0.88) |
| 1972 | 14.6 | (0.28) | 27.6 | (0.85) | 20.8 | (0.62) | 10.2 | (0.46) | 5.4 | (0.33) | 100.0 | (†) | 51.2 | (1.03) | 10.2 | (0.63) | 38.6 | (1.01) | 100.0 | (†) | 27.5 | (0.92) | 20.8 | (0.84) | 29.0 | (0.94) | 22.7 | (0.87) |
| 1973 | 14.1 | (0.27) | 28.0 | (0.85) | 19.6 | (0.60) | 9.9 | (0.45) | 4.9 | (0.31) | 100.0 | (†) | 53.2 | (1.04) | 9.2 | (0.60) | 37.5 | (1.01) | 100.0 | (†) | 26.5 | (0.92) | 20.9 | (0.84) | 27.4 | (0.93) | 25.3 | (0.90) |
| 1974 | 14.3 | (0.27) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 100.0 | (†) | 51.8 | (1.02) | 12.3 | (0.67) | 35.9 | (0.98) | 100.0 | (†) | 25.4 | (0.89) | 20.1 | (0.82) | 28.7 | (0.93) | 25.8 | (0.90) |
| 1975 | 13.9 | (0.27) | 28.8 | (0.82) | 18.0 | (0.58) | 10.2 | (0.45) | 5.0 | (0.30) | 100.0 | (†) | 46.0 | (1.02) | 15.6 | (0.74) | 38.4 | (1.00) | 100.0 | (†) | 23.5 | (0.87) | 21.1 | (0.84) | 27.5 | (0.92) | 27.9 | (0.92) |
| 1976 | 14.1 | (0.27) | 28.1 | (0.79) | 19.2 | (0.60) | 10.1 | (0.45) | 4.9 | (0.29) | 100.0 | (†) | 48.8 | (1.01) | 16.0 | (0.74) | 35.2 | (0.97) | 100.0 | (†) | 24.3 | (0.87) | 20.1 | (0.81) | 27.8 | (0.91) | 27.8 | (0.91) |
| 1977 | 14.1 | (0.27) | 28.5 | (0.80) | 19.0 | (0.60) | 10.4 | (0.46) | 4.5 | (0.29) | 100.0 | (†) | 52.9 | (1.02) | 13.6 | (0.70) | 33.6 | (0.96) | 100.0 | (†) | 24.3 | (0.87) | 21.7 | (0.84) | 27.3 | (0.91) | 26.6 | (0.90) |
| 1978 | 14.2 | (0.27) | 28.2 | (0.80) | 18.9 | (0.60) | 10.5 | (0.46) | 5.5 | (0.31) | 100.0 | (†) | 54.3 | (1.01) | 12.4 | (0.67) | 33.3 | (0.95) | 100.0 | (†) | 22.9 | (0.85) | 20.2 | (0.81) | 28.2 | (0.91) | 28.8 | (0.91) |
| 1979 | 14.6 | (0.27) | 28.1 | (0.79) | 18.5 | (0.60) | 11.5 | (0.47) | 5.6 | (0.32) | 100.0 | (†) | 54.0 | (0.99) | 12.7 | (0.66) | 33.3 | (0.94) | 100.0 | (†) | 22.6 | (0.83) | 21.0 | (0.81) | 28.6 | (0.90) | 27.8 | (0.89) |
| 1980 | 14.1 | (0.26) | 27.0 | (0.77) | 18.1 | (0.60) | 10.7 | (0.46) | 5.7 | (0.32) | 100.0 | (†) | 50.4 | (1.01) | 17.0 | (0.76) | 32.6 | (0.95) | 100.0 | (†) | 23.6 | (0.86) | 19.7 | (0.80) | 29.8 | (0.93) | 27.0 | (0.90) |
| 1981 | 13.9 | (0.26) | 26.4 | (0.75) | 17.8 | (0.57) | 11.1 | (0.47) | 5.2 | (0.30) | 100.0 | (†) | 49.8 | (1.01) | 18.3 | (0.78) | 31.9 | (0.94) | 100.0 | (†) | 24.3 | (0.86) | 18.6 | (0.78) | 30.2 | (0.92) | 26.9 | (0.89) |
| 1982 | 13.9 | (0.27) | 27.2 | (0.78) | 18.3 | (0.63) | 10.2 | (0.48) | 4.4 | (0.29) | 100.0 | (†) | 45.2 | (1.06) | 21.1 | (0.87) | 33.7 | (1.01) | 100.0 | (†) | 22.9 | (0.90) | 20.8 | (0.87) | 28.8 | (0.96) | 27.6 | (0.95) |
| 1983 | 13.7 | (0.27) | 26.5 | (0.77) | 17.8 | (0.62) | 10.5 | (0.50) | 4.1 | (0.29) | 100.0 | (†) | 48.4 | (1.08) | 18.2 | (0.83) | 33.4 | (1.02) | 100.0 | (†) | 23.0 | (0.91) | 19.3 | (0.85) | 28.8 | (0.98) | 28.8 | (0.98) |
| 1984 | 13.1 | (0.27) | 25.9 | (0.76) | 16.5 | (0.61) | 9.9 | (0.48) | 3.8 | (0.29) | 100.0 | (†) | 49.7 | (1.11) | 17.3 | (0.84) | 32.9 | (1.05) | 100.0 | (†) | 23.6 | (0.95) | 21.4 | (0.91) | 27.5 | (1.00) | 27.5 | (0.99) |
| 1985 | 12.6 | (0.27) | 27.1 | (0.78) | 14.7 | (0.60) | 8.3 | (0.46) | 4.0 | (0.29) | 100.0 | (†) | 50.1 | (1.15) | 17.5 | (0.88) | 32.4 | (1.08) | 100.0 | (†) | 23.9 | (0.98) | 21.0 | (0.94) | 27.9 | (1.03) | 27.2 | (1.03) |
| 1986 | 12.2 | (0.27) | 25.4 | (0.75) | 14.8 | (0.60) | 8.0 | (0.45) | 3.4 | (0.28) | 100.0 | (†) | 51.1 | (1.18) | 16.4 | (0.87) | 32.5 | (1.10) | 100.0 | (†) | 25.4 | (1.03) | 21.5 | (0.97) | 25.7 | (1.03) | 27.4 | (1.05) |
| 1987 | 12.6 | (0.28) | 25.5 | (0.76) | 16.6 | (0.63) | 8.0 | (0.46) | 3.6 | (0.28) | 100.0 | (†) | 52.4 | (1.16) | 13.6 | (0.80) | 34.0 | (1.10) | 100.0 | (†) | 25.9 | (1.02) | 20.7 | (0.94) | 26.0 | (1.02) | 27.5 | (1.04) |
| 1988 | 12.9 | (0.30) | 27.2 | (0.85) | 15.4 | (0.68) | 8.2 | (0.51) | 3.4 | (0.30) | 100.0 | (†) | 52.9 | (1.27) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 100.0 | (†) | 28.9 | (1.15) | 19.3 | (1.00) | 25.1 | (1.10) | 26.8 | (1.12) |
| 1989 | 12.6 | (0.31) | 25.0 | (0.84) | 16.2 | (0.71) | 8.7 | (0.52) | 3.3 | (0.31) | 100.0 | (†) | 53.2 | (1.30) | 13.8 | (0.90) | 33.0 | (1.22) | 100.0 | (†) | 29.4 | (1.18) | 20.8 | (1.05) | 24.9 | (1.12) | 25.0 | (1.13) |
| 1990 | 12.1 | (0.29) | 24.3 | (0.82) | 15.1 | (0.65) | 8.7 | (0.51) | 2.9 | (0.28) | 100.0 | (†) | 52.5 | (1.29) | 13.3 | (0.88) | 34.2 | (1.23) | 100.0 | (†) | 28.6 | (1.17) | 20.9 | (1.05) | 24.4 | (1.11) | 26.1 | (1.14) |
| 1991 | 12.5 | (0.30) | 25.9 | (0.83) | 15.5 | (0.66) | 7.7 | (0.49) | 3.0 | (0.29) | 100.0 | (†) | 47.5 | (1.28) | 15.8 | (0.93) | 36.7 | (1.23) | 100.0 | (†) | 28.6 | (1.15) | 20.5 | (1.03) | 26.1 | (1.12) | 24.9 | (1.10) |
| 19922 | 11.0 | (0.28) | 23.4 | (0.79) | 12.9 | (0.62) | 7.3 | (0.48) | 2.4 | (0.26) | 100.0 | (†) | 47.6 | (1.36) | 15.0 | (0.97) | 37.4 | (1.32) | 100.0 | (†) | 21.6 | (1.12) | 17.5 | (1.04) | 24.4 | (1.17) | 36.5 | (1.31) |
| 19932 | 11.0 | (0.28) | 22.9 | (0.77) | 12.7 | (0.62) | 6.6 | (0.46) | 2.9 | (0.29) | 100.0 | (†) | 48.7 | (1.37) | 12.8 | (0.91) | 38.5 | (1.33) | 100.0 | (†) | 20.5 | (1.10) | 16.6 | (1.02) | 24.1 | (1.17) | 38.8 | (1.33) |
| 19942 | 11.4 | (0.26) | 20.7 | (0.71) | 13.7 | (0.58) | 8.7 | (0.45) | 4.9 | (0.33) | 100.0 | (†) | 49.5 | (1.21) | 13.0 | (0.81) | 37.5 | (1.17) | 100.0 | (†) | 23.9 | (1.03) | 16.2 | (0.89) | 20.3 | (0.97) | 39.6 | (1.18) |
| 19952 | 12.0 | (0.27) | 23.2 | (0.69) | 13.8 | (0.59) | 8.3 | (0.46) | 3.6 | (0.29) | 100.0 | (†) | 48.9 | (1.19) | 14.2 | (0.83) | 37.0 | (1.14) | 100.0 | (†) | 22.2 | (0.99) | 17.0 | (0.89) | 22.5 | (0.99) | 38.3 | (1.15) |
| 19962 | 11.1 | (0.27) | 22.0 | (0.72) | 13.6 | (0.60) | 7.0 | (0.45) | 3.2 | (0.28) | 100.0 | (†) | 47.3 | (1.28) | 15.0 | (0.91) | 37.7 | (1.24) | 100.0 | (†) | 20.3 | (1.03) | 17.7 | (0.98) | 22.6 | (1.07) | 39.4 | (1.25) |
| 19972 | 11.0 | (0.27) | 21.8 | (0.71) | 13.5 | (0.59) | 6.2 | (0.42) | 3.4 | (0.29) | 100.0 | (†) | 53.3 | (1.28) | 13.2 | (0.86) | 33.5 | (1.21) | 100.0 | (†) | 19.9 | (1.02) | 15.7 | (0.93) | 22.3 | (1.06) | 42.1 | (1.26) |
| 19982 | 11.8 | (0.27) | 22.3 | (0.71) | 14.9 | (0.62) | 7.7 | (0.45) | 3.5 | (0.29) | 100.0 | (†) | 55.1 | (1.22) | 10.3 | (0.74) | 34.6 | (1.17) | 100.0 | (†) | 21.0 | (1.00) | 14.9 | (0.87) | 21.4 | (1.01) | 42.6 | (1.21) |
| 19992 | 11.2 | (0.26) | 21.0 | (0.70) | 14.3 | (0.60) | 7.4 | (0.44) | 3.9 | (0.30) | 100.0 | (†) | 55.6 | (1.24) | 10.0 | (0.75) | 34.4 | (1.18) | 100.0 | (†) | 22.2 | (1.03) | 16.3 | (0.92) | 22.5 | (1.04) | 39.0 | (1.21) |
| 20002 | 10.9 | (0.26) | 20.7 | (0.70) | 12.8 | (0.56) | 8.3 | (0.46) | 3.5 | (0.29) | 100.0 | (†) | 56.9 | (1.24) | 12.3 | (0.82) | 30.8 | (1.16) | 100.0 | (†) | 21.5 | (1.03) | 15.3 | (0.90) | 23.1 | (1.06) | 40.0 | (1.23) |
| 20012 | 10.7 | (0.25) | 19.3 | (0.68) | 13.4 | (0.57) | 9.0 | (0.47) | 3.2 | (0.27) | 100.0 | (†) | 58.3 | (1.24) | 14.8 | (0.89) | 26.9 | (1.11) | 100.0 | (†) | 18.4 | (0.97) | 16.8 | (0.94) | 23.8 | (1.07) | 40.9 | (1.23) |
| 20022 | 10.5 | (0.24) | 18.8 | (0.62) | 12.3 | (0.53) | 8.4 | (0.43) | 3.8 | (0.28) | 100.0 | (†) | 57.4 | (1.18) | 13.3 | (0.81) | 29.2 | (1.09) | 100.0 | (†) | 22.8 | (1.00) | 17.1 | (0.90) | 21.3 | (0.98) | 38.9 | (1.17) |
| 20032 | 9.9 | (0.23) | 19.5 | (0.64) | 10.8 | (0.49) | 7.3 | (0.40) | 3.4 | (0.26) | 100.0 | (†) | 53.5 | (1.22) | 13.7 | (0.84) | 32.9 | (1.15) | 100.0 | (†) | 21.2 | (1.00) | 18.2 | (0.94) | 20.7 | (0.99) | 40.0 | (1.20) |
| 20042 | 10.3 | (0.23) | 18.0 | (0.60) | 12.7 | (0.52) | 8.2 | (0.42) | 3.7 | (0.27) | 100.0 | (†) | 53.0 | (1.19) | 14.3 | (0.83) | 32.7 | (1.12) | 100.0 | (†) | 21.4 | (0.97) | 15.9 | (0.87) | 22.5 | (0.99) | 40.3 | (1.17) |
| 20052 | 9.4 | (0.22) | 17.9 | (0.60) | 11.5 | (0.51) | 7.1 | (0.39) | 2.7 | (0.23) | 100.0 | (†) | 56.9 | (1.23) | 11.9 | (0.80) | 31.2 | (1.15) | 100.0 | (†) | 18.9 | (0.97) | 16.8 | (0.93) | 21.4 | (1.02) | 42.9 | (1.23) |
| 20062 | 9.3 | (0.22) | 16.5 | (0.58) | 12.1 | (0.51) | 6.3 | (0.37) | 3.8 | (0.27) | 100.0 | (†) | 56.4 | (1.23) | 11.7 | (0.80) | 32.0 | (1.16) | 100.0 | (†) | 22.1 | (1.03) | 13.4 | (0.85) | 20.7 | (1.01) | 43.9 | (1.23) |
| 20072 | 8.7 | (0.21) | 16.7 | (0.59) | 10.5 | (0.48) | 6.4 | (0.36) | 3.2 | (0.25) | 100.0 | (†) | 55.5 | (1.27) | 11.2 | (0.80) | 33.3 | (1.20) | 100.0 | (†) | 21.2 | (1.04) | 16.9 | (0.96) | 22.9 | (1.07) | 39.0 | (1.24) |
| 20082 | 8.0 | (0.20) | 16.4 | (0.58) | 9.4 | (0.45) | 5.4 | (0.34) | 2.2 | (0.21) | 100.0 | (†) | 46.8 | (1.33) | 16.3 | (0.98) | 36.9 | (1.28) | 100.0 | (†) | 18.4 | (1.03) | 15.2 | (0.96) | 23.8 | (1.13) | 42.6 | (1.32) |
| 20092 | 8.1 | (0.20) | 15.8 | (0.57) | 9.7 | (0.45) | 5.4 | (0.34) | 2.5 | (0.22) | 100.0 | (†) | 43.2 | (1.31) | 19.9 | (1.06) | 36.9 | (1.28) | 100.0 | (†) | 17.7 | (1.01) | 13.6 | (0.91) | 24.4 | (1.14) | 44.3 | (1.32) |
| 20102,3 | 7.4 | (0.27) | 13.8 | (0.83) | 8.9 | (0.54) | 5.1 | (0.48) | 2.5 | (0.31) | 100.0 | (†) | 45.8 | (1.64) | 18.7 | (1.38) | 35.5 | (1.70) | 100.0 | (†) | 19.2 | (1.48) | 13.1 | (1.07) | 22.5 | (1.59) | 45.2 | (1.89) |
| 20112,3 | 7.1 | (0.26) | 13.0 | (0.73) | 9.0 | (0.53) | 4.8 | (0.45) | 2.3 | (0.32) | 100.0 | (†) | 49.8 | (1.77) | 16.0 | (1.33) | 34.2 | (1.69) | 100.0 | (†) | 18.1 | (1.72) | 12.9 | (1.15) | 21.2 | (1.39) | 47.7 | (1.87) |
| 20122,3 | 6.6 | (0.25) | 11.8 | (0.70) | 8.7 | (0.65) | 4.1 | (0.44) | 1.9 | (0.31) | 100.0 | (†) | 44.8 | (2.07) | 18.1 | (1.49) | 37.1 | (1.83) | 100.0 | (†) | 18.3 | (1.76) | 10.2 | (1.21) | 21.9 | (1.57) | 49.6 | (2.20) |
| —Not available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| †Not applicable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Includes persons who were employed but not at work during the survey week. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 Because of changes in data collection procedures, data may not be comparable with figures for years prior to 1992. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 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 2012. (This table was prepared May 2013.) |
