Figure 2. Status dropout rates of 16- through 24-year-olds, by race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2008

Trends in High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 1972–2008

NCES 2011-012
December 2010

Figure 2. Status dropout rates of 16- through 24-year-olds, by race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2008

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 credentials include high school diplomas and equivalent credentials, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Beginning in 2003, respondents were able to identify themselves as being two or more races. The 2003 through 2008 categories for White (non-Hispanic) and Black (non-Hispanic) contain only respondents who indicated just one race. The Hispanic category includes Hispanics of all races and racial combinations. Due to small sample sizes for some or all of the years shown in the figure, American Indians/Alaska Natives and Asians/Pacific Islanders who are not Hispanic are included in the totals but not shown separately. The Two or more races (non-Hispanic) category is also included in the total in 2003 through 2008 but not shown separately due to small sample sizes. The variability of Hispanic status rates relfects, in part, small Hispanic sample sizes in earlier years of the Current Population Survey (CPS). Beginning with 1987 reflect new editing procedures for cases with missing data on school enrollment items. Estimates beginning with 1992 reflect new wording of the educational attainment item. Estimates beginning with 1994 reflect changes due to newly instituted computer-assisted interviewing. For details about changes in the CPS over time, please see Kaufman, P., Alt, M.N., and Chapman, C. (2004). Dropout Rates in the United States: 2001 (NCES 2005-046). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.

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 credentials include high school diplomas and equivalent credentials, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Beginning in 2003, respondents were able to identify themselves as being two or more races. The 2003 through 2008 categories for White (non-Hispanic) and Black (non-Hispanic) contain only respondents who indicated just one race. The Hispanic category includes Hispanics of all races and racial combinations. Due to small sample sizes for some or all of the years shown in the figure, American Indians/Alaska Natives and Asians/Pacific Islanders who are not Hispanic are included in the totals but not shown separately. The Two or more races (non-Hispanic) category is also included in the total in 2003 through 2008 but not shown separately due to small sample sizes. The variability of Hispanic status rates relfects, in part, small Hispanic sample sizes in earlier years of the Current Population Survey (CPS). Beginning with 1987 reflect new editing procedures for cases with missing data on school enrollment items. Estimates beginning with 1992 reflect new wording of the educational attainment item. Estimates beginning with 1994 reflect changes due to newly instituted computer-assisted interviewing. For details about changes in the CPS over time, please see Kaufman, P., Alt, M.N., and Chapman, C. (2004). Dropout Rates in the United States: 2001 (NCES 2005-046). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.

List of Figures