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| Table 219.75. | Percentage of high school dropouts among persons 16 to 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 2014 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Status dropout rate | Status dropout rate, by family income quartile |
Percentage distribution of status dropouts, by labor force status1 |
Percentage distribution of status dropouts, by years of school completed |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lowest quartile |
Middle low quartile |
Middle high quartile |
Highest quartile |
Total | Employed2 | 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) |
| 19923 | 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) |
| 19933 | 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) |
| 19943 | 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) |
| 19953 | 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) |
| 19963 | 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) |
| 19973 | 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) |
| 19983 | 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) |
| 19993 | 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) |
| 20003 | 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) |
| 20013 | 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) |
| 20023 | 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) |
| 20033 | 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) |
| 20043 | 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) |
| 20053 | 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) |
| 20063 | 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) |
| 20073 | 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) |
| 20083 | 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) |
| 20093 | 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) |
| 20103,4 | 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) |
| 20113,4 | 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) |
| 20123,4 | 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) |
| 20133,4 | 6.8 | (0.28) | 10.7 | (0.73) | 8.8 | (0.67) | 5.0 | (0.44) | 3.2 | (0.36) | 100.0 | (†) | 41.1 | (2.01) | 16.8 | (1.58) | 42.1 | (1.84) | 100.0 | (†) | 18.3 | (1.70) | 13.3 | (1.34) | 21.1 | (1.63) | 47.4 | (2.31) |
| 20143,4 | 6.5 | (0.25) | 11.6 | (0.68) | 7.6 | (0.57) | 4.7 | (0.43) | 2.8 | (0.31) | 100.0 | (†) | 44.7 | (1.84) | 17.0 | (1.41) | 38.3 | (1.61) | 100.0 | (†) | 15.0 | (1.58) | 13.7 | (1.28) | 21.3 | (1.56) | 50.0 | (1.94) |
| —Not available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| †Not applicable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Data are not comparable to unemployment data produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 Includes persons who were employed but not at work during the survey week. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 Because of changes in data collection procedures, data may not be comparable with figures for years prior to 1992. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 Beginning in 2010, standard errors were computed using replicate weights, which produced more precise values than the generalized variance function 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 2014. (This table was prepared August 2015.) |
