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

NCES 2011-012 December 2010

Table A-3. Percentage distribution of persons who passed the General Educational Development (GED) exam at federal or state contract facilities, by age group: 1998–2008

	Number passed		Age group
Year1			16	17	18	19	20–24	25 or older
1998	NA		NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
1999	NA		NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
2000	NA		NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
2001	NA		NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
2002	4,414		0.0	0.4	1.6	3.8	26.8	67.4
2003	6,332		0.3	1.0	1.7	2.7	27.9	66.4
2004	8,644		0.4	1.0	2.0	2.9	25.4	68.3
2005	10,591		0.3	3.1	4.0	4.1	23.9	64.6
2006	10,143		0.4	3.5	5.5	6.1	23.8	60.7
2007	11,741		0.3	3.0	7.5	7.1	25.0	57.1
2008	14,727		1.0	5.8	10.9	9.1	23.5	49.7
1 Prior to 2002, people passing exams in federal or state contract facilities were issued GEDs in their state of residence. NOTE: Data apply to the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The numbers and percentage distributions for 1998–2001 were reported in the original source as the number receiving a credential. SOURCE: American Council on Education, GED Testing Service. (1991–2002). Who Took the GED? GED Annual Statistical Report. Washington, DC: Author; American Council on Education, GED Testing Service. (2003–06). Who Passed the GED Tests? Annual Statistical Report. Washington, DC: Author; American Council on Education, GED Testing Service. (2007). 2006 GED Testing Program Statistical Report. Washington, DC: Author; American Council on Education, GED Testing Service. (2008). 2007 GED Testing Program Statistical Report. Washington, DC: Author; and American Council on Education, GED Testing Service. (2009). 2008 GED Testing Program Statistical Report. Washington, DC: Author.