Table 6. Status dropout rates and number and distribution of dropouts of 16- through 24-year-olds, by selected background characteristics: October 2004
Characteristic	Status dropout rate (percent)	Number of status dropouts (thousands)	Population (thousands)	Percent of all dropouts	Percent of population
Total	10.3	3,766	36,504	100	100
Sex
Male	11.6	2,140	18,406	56.8	50.4
Female	9.0	1,626	18,097	43.2	49.6
Race/ethnicity1
White, non-Hispanic	6.8	1,530	22,654	40.6	62.1
Black, non-Hispanic	11.8	594	5,048	15.8	13.8
Hispanic	23.8	1,499	6,301	39.8	17.3
Asian/Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic	3.6	56	1,577	1.5	4.3
More than one race	6.1	39	640	1.0	1.8
Age
16	3.8	169	4,472	4.5	12.2
17	5.2	211	4,084	5.6	11.2
18	10.6	400	3,784	10.6	10.4
19	11.2	440	3,917	11.7	10.7
20–24	12.6	2,546	20,247	67.6	55.5
Recency of immigration
Born outside the 50 states and District of Columbia
Hispanic	38.4	954	2,488	25.3	6.8
Non-Hispanic	6.5	126	1,954	3.4	5.4
First generation2
Hispanic	14.7	313	2,129	8.3	5.8
Non-Hispanic	2.6	54	2,081	1.4	5.7
Second generation or higher2
Hispanic	13.7	231	1,684	6.1	4.6
Non-Hispanic	8.0	2,087	26,168	55.4	71.7
Region
Northeast	8.8	613	6,938	16.3	19.0
Midwest	8.0	669	8,400	17.8	23.0
South	11.4	1,471	12,871	39.1	35.3
West	12.2	1,012	8,294	26.9	22.7
1 Beginning in 2003, respondents were able to identify themselves as being “more than one race.” The White, non-Hispanic; Black, non-Hispanic; and Asian/Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic categories consist of individuals who considered themselves to be one race and who did not identify as Hispanic. Non-Hispanics who identified as multiracial are included in the “more than one race” category. The Hispanic category consists of Hispanics of all races and racial combinations. Due to small sample size, American Indians/Alaska Natives are included in the total but are not shown separately. 2 Individuals defined as “first generation” were born in the 50 states or the District of Columbia, and one or both of their parents were born outside the 50 states or the District of Columbia. Individuals defined as “second generation or higher” were born in the 50 states or the District of Columbia, as were both of their parents. 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 credential includes a high school diploma or equivalent credential such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Detail may not add to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 2004.