Table 2. Percentage distribution of 2003–2004 high school seniors, by intended STEM and non-STEM major upon beginning postsecondary study and STEM courses taken in high school: 2006

Education Longitudinal
Study of 2002 (ELS:2002)

Download Excel (17 KB)

		STEM major									Non-STEM major
High school STEM course	Percent of 2003-2004 high school seniors	Total		mathematics	Biological/ life sciences		Engineering/ technologies/ technicians		Computer and information sciences		Total	Social/ behavioral science		Humanities		Business	Education	Health sciences		Other Non-STEM		Don't know/ Undecided
Total	100.0	15.8		4.9	0.7		6.7		3.5		77.5	16.2		8.7		15.0	7.5	7.6		12.6		6.6

Highest math course taken in high school¹
No math	0.9	19.5	!	‡	#		#		‡		74.1	16.4	!	#		‡	‡	29.2	!	21.1	!	‡
Basic math/pre-algebra	5.9	12.5		‡	‡		6.6	!	2.6	!	76.3	20.1		5.0	!	9.9	8.6	14.5		18.2		11.2
Algebra I, geometry, or algebra II	45.3	8.9		2.1	0.7		2.6		3.5		84.0	18.9		7.7		13.7	7.6	19.0		17.2		7.1
Trigonometry, statistics, pre-calculus	34.6	15.7		5.7	0.6		6.2		3.2		77.7	15.7		9.8		17.0	8.5	16.0		10.7		6.5
Calculus	13.3	31.8		9.7	1.1	!	16.6		4.4		62.9	10.9		8.8		14.0	5.1	18.2		5.9		5.3

Highest math course taken in high school¹
Basic or no science²	8.1	12.1		‡	‡		4.7	!	4.8	!	79.5	20.2		6.4		15.4	9.9	12.9		14.6		8.4
College prep started³	58.4	11.0		2.8	0.7		3.6		3.9		82.0	17.6		8.5		15.3	8.1	17.7		14.8		7.0
College prep completed⁴	16.4	18.8		5.0	0.7	!	9.7		3.4		74.2	14.4		8.5		16.5	7.8	14.9		12.1		7.1
Advanced⁵	17.2	26.1		10.7	1.0		11.8		2.6		68.8	13.7		9.7		12.4	5.3	20.5		7.2		5.1


# Rounds to zero.
! Interpret data with caution. Estimate is unstable because the coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 30 percent or greater (i.e., the standard error represents 30 percent or more of the estimate).
‡ Reporting standards are not met. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 50 percent or greater (i.e., the standard error represents 50 percent or more of the estimate).
¹ Sample members for whom no high school transcript was received are not included in the estimates.
² Basic or no science: student has not taken general biology, chemistry 1, or physics 1.
³ College prep started: student has taken general biology, chemistry 1, or physics 1.
⁴ College prep completed: student has taken general biology, chemistry 1, and physics 1.
⁵ Advanced: student has taken advanced biology, chemistry 2, or physics 2.
NOTE: Totals are weighted by F2QWT and other estimates are weighted by F2QTSCWT. The flag variable G12COHRT was used to produce data that are based on 2003-2004 high school seniors interviewed in both 2004 and 2006. Details may not sum to totals due to rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS: 2002) Second Follow-up, 2006."

Back

Download Excel (17 KB)

Download SE Excel (16 KB)