Table 6. Status dropout rates and number and distribution of dropouts of 16- through 24-year-olds, by selected background characteristics: October 2005

Dropout Rates in the United States: 2005

NCES 2007-059
June 2007

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Characteristic	Status dropout rate (percent)	Number of status dropouts (thousands)	Population (thousands)	Percent of all dropouts	Percent of population

Total	9.4	3,458	36,761	100.0	100.0

Sex
Male	10.8	2,009	18,547	58.1	50.5
Female	8.0	1,449	18,214	41.9	49.5

Race/ethnicity ¹
White, non–Hispanic	6.0	1,358	22,806	39.3	62.0
Black, non–Hispanic	10.4	534	5,111	15.4	13.9
Hispanic	22.4	1,429	6,364	41.3	17.3
Asian/Pacific Islander,
non–Hispanic	2.9	44	1,532	1.3	4.2
More than one race	8.2	56	683	1.6	1.9

Age
16	2.5	116	4,593	3.3	12.5
17	4.4	188	4,313	5.4	11.7
18	8.1	305	3,777	8.8	10.3
19	9.4	356	3,782	10.3	10.3
20–24	12.3	2,493	20,295	72.1	55.2

Recency of immigration
Born outside the 50 states and District of Columbia
Hispanic	36.5	942	2,582	27.2	7.0
Non–Hispanic	4.7	94	2,008	2.7	5.5
First generation ²
Hispanic	13.9	297	2,146	8.6	5.8
Non–Hispanic	3.1	66	2,166	1.9	5.9
Second generation or higher ²
Hispanic	11.6	189	1,636	5.5	4.5
Non–Hispanic	7.1	1,869	26,222	54.0	71.3

Region
Northeast	6.9	461	6,650	13.3	18.1
Midwest	7.2	624	8,658	18.1	23.6
South	11.5	1,491	12,985	43.1	35.3
West	10.4	881	8,468	25.5	23.0
¹ 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. Because of 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 2005.

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