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| 2022 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 to 24 years old (status dropout rate) and percentage distribution of status dropouts, by labor force status and years of school completed: Selected years, 1970 through 2021 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Status dropout rate | Percentage distribution of status dropouts, by labor force status1 |
Percentage distribution of status dropouts, by years of school completed |
|||||||||||||||||
| Total | In labor force | Not in labor force |
Total | Less than 9 years | 9 years | 10 years | 11 or 12 years | |||||||||||||
| Employed2 | Unemployed | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | ||||||||||
| 1970 | 15.0 | (0.30) | 100.0 | (†) | 49.8 | (1.08) | 10.3 | (0.66) | 39.9 | (1.06) | 100.0 | (†) | 28.5 | (0.98) | 20.6 | (0.87) | 26.8 | (0.96) | 24.0 | (0.92) |
| 1975 | 13.9 | (0.27) | 100.0 | (†) | 46.0 | (1.04) | 15.6 | (0.76) | 38.4 | (1.02) | 100.0 | (†) | 23.5 | (0.89) | 21.1 | (0.85) | 27.5 | (0.93) | 27.9 | (0.94) |
| 1976 | 14.1 | (0.27) | 100.0 | (†) | 48.8 | (1.03) | 16.0 | (0.75) | 35.2 | (0.98) | 100.0 | (†) | 24.3 | (0.88) | 20.1 | (0.82) | 27.8 | (0.92) | 27.8 | (0.92) |
| 1977 | 14.1 | (0.27) | 100.0 | (†) | 52.9 | (1.02) | 13.6 | (0.70) | 33.6 | (0.97) | 100.0 | (†) | 24.3 | (0.88) | 21.7 | (0.84) | 27.3 | (0.91) | 26.6 | (0.91) |
| 1978 | 14.2 | (0.27) | 100.0 | (†) | 54.3 | (1.01) | 12.4 | (0.67) | 33.3 | (0.96) | 100.0 | (†) | 22.9 | (0.85) | 20.2 | (0.81) | 28.2 | (0.91) | 28.8 | (0.92) |
| 1979 | 14.6 | (0.27) | 100.0 | (†) | 54.0 | (1.00) | 12.7 | (0.67) | 33.3 | (0.94) | 100.0 | (†) | 22.6 | (0.84) | 21.0 | (0.82) | 28.6 | (0.90) | 27.8 | (0.90) |
1980 |
14.1 | (0.27) | 100.0 | (†) | 50.4 | (1.02) | 17.0 | (0.77) | 32.6 | (0.95) | 100.0 | (†) | 23.6 | (0.86) | 19.7 | (0.81) | 29.8 | (0.93) | 27.0 | (0.90) |
| 1981 | 13.9 | (0.26) | 100.0 | (†) | 49.8 | (1.01) | 18.3 | (0.78) | 31.9 | (0.94) | 100.0 | (†) | 24.3 | (0.87) | 18.6 | (0.79) | 30.2 | (0.93) | 26.9 | (0.90) |
| 1982 | 13.9 | (0.28) | 100.0 | (†) | 45.2 | (1.08) | 21.1 | (0.88) | 33.7 | (1.02) | 100.0 | (†) | 22.9 | (0.91) | 20.8 | (0.88) | 28.8 | (0.98) | 27.6 | (0.97) |
| 1983 | 13.7 | (0.28) | 100.0 | (†) | 48.4 | (1.10) | 18.2 | (0.85) | 33.4 | (1.04) | 100.0 | (†) | 23.0 | (0.92) | 19.3 | (0.87) | 28.8 | (0.99) | 28.8 | (0.99) |
| 1984 | 13.1 | (0.28) | 100.0 | (†) | 49.7 | (1.13) | 17.3 | (0.86) | 32.9 | (1.06) | 100.0 | (†) | 23.6 | (0.96) | 21.4 | (0.93) | 27.5 | (1.01) | 27.5 | (1.01) |
1985 |
12.6 | (0.28) | 100.0 | (†) | 50.1 | (1.17) | 17.5 | (0.89) | 32.4 | (1.09) | 100.0 | (†) | 23.9 | (1.00) | 21.0 | (0.95) | 27.9 | (1.05) | 27.2 | (1.04) |
| 1986 | 12.2 | (0.27) | 100.0 | (†) | 51.1 | (1.19) | 16.4 | (0.88) | 32.5 | (1.12) | 100.0 | (†) | 25.4 | (1.04) | 21.5 | (0.98) | 25.7 | (1.04) | 27.4 | (1.07) |
| 1987 | 12.6 | (0.28) | 100.0 | (†) | 52.4 | (1.18) | 13.6 | (0.81) | 34.0 | (1.12) | 100.0 | (†) | 25.9 | (1.04) | 20.7 | (0.96) | 26.0 | (1.04) | 27.5 | (1.06) |
| 1988 | 12.9 | (0.31) | 100.0 | (†) | 52.9 | (1.29) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 100.0 | (†) | 28.9 | (1.17) | 19.3 | (1.02) | 25.1 | (1.12) | 26.8 | (1.14) |
| 1989 | 12.6 | (0.30) | 100.0 | (†) | 53.2 | (1.25) | 13.8 | (0.86) | 33.0 | (1.18) | 100.0 | (†) | 29.4 | (1.14) | 20.8 | (1.02) | 24.9 | (1.08) | 25.0 | (1.09) |
1990 |
12.1 | (0.29) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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 | (0.28) | 100.0 | (†) | 49.5 | (1.30) | 13.0 | (0.88) | 37.5 | (1.26) | 100.0 | (†) | 23.9 | (1.11) | 16.2 | (0.96) | 20.3 | (1.05) | 39.6 | (1.28) |
19953 |
12.0 | (0.27) | 100.0 | (†) | 48.9 | (1.19) | 14.2 | (0.83) | 37.0 | (1.15) | 100.0 | (†) | 22.2 | (0.99) | 17.0 | (0.89) | 22.5 | (0.99) | 38.3 | (1.16) |
| 19963 | 11.1 | (0.27) | 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) | 100.0 | (†) | 53.3 | (1.27) | 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) | 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 | (1.00) | 42.6 | (1.21) |
| 19993 | 11.2 | (0.26) | 100.0 | (†) | 55.6 | (1.23) | 10.0 | (0.74) | 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) | 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 | (0.24) | 100.0 | (†) | 58.3 | (1.17) | 14.8 | (0.85) | 26.9 | (1.05) | 100.0 | (†) | 18.4 | (0.92) | 16.8 | (0.89) | 23.8 | (1.01) | 40.9 | (1.17) |
| 20023 | 10.5 | (0.24) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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 |
7.4 | (0.27) | 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 | 7.1 | (0.26) | 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 | 6.6 | (0.25) | 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 | 6.8 | (0.28) | 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 | 6.5 | (0.25) | 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) |
20153 |
5.9 | (0.26) | 100.0 | (†) | 41.7 | (2.10) | 14.2 | (1.48) | 44.1 | (2.10) | 100.0 | (†) | 14.5 | (1.67) | 13.9 | (1.40) | 21.3 | (1.65) | 50.2 | (2.00) |
| 20163 | 6.1 | (0.27) | 100.0 | (†) | 46.6 | (1.99) | 13.9 | (1.31) | 39.6 | (1.90) | 100.0 | (†) | 17.6 | (1.91) | 10.8 | (1.14) | 21.9 | (1.64) | 49.7 | (2.22) |
| 20173 | 5.8 | (0.26) | 100.0 | (†) | 46.7 | (1.91) | 8.3 | (1.09) | 44.9 | (1.98) | 100.0 | (†) | 21.0 | (2.14) | 9.8 | (1.22) | 20.3 | (1.76) | 49.0 | (2.41) |
| 20183 | 5.7 | (0.27) | 100.0 | (†) | 50.7 | (2.02) | 8.5 | (1.24) | 40.8 | (2.10) | 100.0 | (†) | 17.0 | (2.03) | 10.3 | (1.26) | 20.6 | (1.74) | 52.0 | (2.29) |
| 20193 | 5.2 | (0.23) | 100.0 | (†) | 50.3 | (2.43) | 8.6 | (1.51) | 41.0 | (2.32) | 100.0 | (†) | 18.8 | (2.35) | 12.0 | (1.62) | 22.4 | (1.94) | 46.8 | (2.34) |
20203 |
5.3 | (0.30) | 100.0 | (†) | 52.4 | (2.20) | 6.2 | (1.12) | 41.4 | (2.17) | 100.0 | (†) | 21.1 | (2.63) | 10.0 | (1.38) | 20.6 | (2.16) | 48.2 | (2.67) |
| 20213 | 5.1 | (0.29) | 100.0 | (†) | 49.5 | (2.26) | 9.5 | (1.32) | 41.0 | (2.27) | 100.0 | (†) | 17.7 | (2.35) | 9.9 | (1.22) | 20.8 | (2.09) | 51.6 | (2.55) |
| ---Not available. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| †Not applicable. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1Data are not comparable to employment and unemployment rate data produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics because the percentage distributions presented here include persons who are not in the labor force. The labor force consists of those who are employed and those who are unemployed (i.e., seeking employment); persons who are neither employed nor seeking employment are not in the labor force. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2Includes persons who were employed but not at work during the survey week. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3Because of changes in data collection procedures, data may not be comparable with figures for years prior to 1992. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 equivalency credentials, such as the GED, are counted as high school completers. Data are based on sample surveys of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, which excludes persons in the military and persons living in institutions (e.g., prisons or nursing facilities). Prior to 2010, standard errors were computed using generalized variance function methodology rather than the more precise replicate weight methodology used in later years. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October, 1970 through 2021. (This table was prepared September 2022.) |
