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                    <text>Trends in High School Dropout
and Completion Rates in
the United States: 1972–2008
Compendium Report
DECEMBER 2010

Chris Chapman
National Center for Education Statistics
Jennifer Laird
MPR Associates, Inc.
Angelina KewalRamani
Education Statistics Services Institute
American Institutes for Research

NCES 2011-012

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

�U.S. Department of Education
Arne Duncan
Secretary
Institute of Education Sciences
John Q. Easton
Director
National Center for Education Statistics
Stuart Kerachsky
Acting Commissioner
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity for collecting, analyzing, and reporting data related
to education in the United States and other nations. It fulfills a congressional mandate to collect, collate, analyze, and report full and
complete statistics on the condition of education in the United States; conduct and publish reports and specialized analyses of the
meaning and significance of such statistics; assist state and local education agencies in improving their statistical systems; and review
and report on education activities in foreign countries.
NCES activities are designed to address high-priority education data needs; provide consistent, reliable, complete, and accurate
indicators of education status and trends; and report timely, useful, and high-quality data to the U.S. Department of Education, the
Congress, the states, other education policymakers, practitioners, data users, and the general public. Unless specifically noted, all
information contained herein is in the public domain.
We strive to make our products available in a variety of formats and in language that is appropriate to a variety of audiences. You, as
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IES

U.S. Department of Education 

1990 K Street NW 

Washington, DC 20006-5651

December 2010 

The NCES Home Page address is http://nces.ed.gov. 

The NCES Publications and Products address is http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch. This publication is only available online. To 

download, view, and print the report as a PDF file, go to the NCES World Wide Web Publications and Products address shown 

above. 

This report was prepared in part under Contract No. ED-05-CO-0044 with the Education Statistics Services Institute, within the
American Institutes for Research, and MPR Associates, Inc. Mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations does
not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Suggested Citation
Chapman, C., Laird, J., and KewalRamani, A. (2010). Trends in High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 1972–2008
(NCES 2011-012). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education.
Washington, DC. Retrieved [date] from http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch.
Content Contact
Chris Chapman
(202) 502-7414
chris.chapman@ed.gov

�Acknowledgments 

The authors would like to recognize the time and effort volunteered by household
respondents to the Current Population Survey (CPS). The report also relies on voluntary
reporting by local and state officials to compile the rates reported through the Common Core of
Data on public schools.

iii

��Contents 

Page 

Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................................... iii 

List of Tables .............................................................................................................................. vi 

List of Figures............................................................................................................................. ix 

Introduction ................................................................................................................................

1


Findings.......................................................................................................................................
National Event Dropout Rates ...............................................................................................
State Event Dropout Rates for Public High School Students ................................................
National Status Dropout Rates ...............................................................................................
National Status Completion Rates .........................................................................................
General Educational Development (GED) Credentials and National Status 

Completion Rates................................................................................................................
Averaged Freshman Graduation Rates for Public School Students.......................................

5

5

7

8

10 

11 

12 


References ................................................................................................................................... 15

Figures......................................................................................................................................... 21

Tables .......................................................................................................................................... 29

Appendix A—Technical Notes..................................................................................................A-1

Appendix B—Glossary ..............................................................................................................B-1

Appendix C—Standard Error Tables......................................................................................C-1


v

�List of Tables 

Table 	

Page

1	

Event dropout rates and number and distribution of 15- through 24-year-olds who 

dropped out of grades 10–12, by selected characteristics: October 2008 ........................ 30 


2	

Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out of grades 10–12, 

and number of dropouts and population of 15- through 24-year-olds who were 

enrolled: October 1972 through October 2008 ................................................................ 32 


3	

Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out of grades 10–12, 

by sex and race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2008 ..................................... 34 


4	

Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out of grades 10–12, 

by family income: October 1972 through October 2008 ................................................. 36 


5	

Event dropout rates for public school students in grades 9–12, by state: School 

years 1993–94 through 2007–08...................................................................................... 38 


6	

Status dropout rates and number and distribution of dropouts of 16- through 

24-year-olds, by selected characteristics: October 2008.................................................. 40 


7	

Status dropout rates, number of status dropouts, and population of 16- through 

24-year-olds: October 1972 through October 2008 ......................................................... 42 


8	

Status dropout rates of 16- through 24-year-olds, by sex and race/ethnicity: October 

1972 through October 2008 ............................................................................................. 44 


9	

Status completion rates, and number and distribution of completers ages 18–24 not 

currently enrolled in high school or below, by selected characteristics: October 

2008.................................................................................................................................. 46 


10 	

Status completion rates, number of completers, and population of 18- through 

24-year-olds: October 1972 through October 2008 ......................................................... 48 


11 	

Status completion rates of 18- through 24-year-olds not currently enrolled in high 

school or below, by sex and race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2008 .......... 50 


vi

�List of Tables

Table 	

Page

12 	

Averaged freshman graduation rate of public high school students, by state: 

School year 2007–08........................................................................................................ 52 


13 	

Averaged freshman graduation rates of public high school students and change in 

rates, by state: School years 2001–02 through 2007–08.................................................. 54 


Appendix A
A-1 	 Summary table of high school dropout, completion, and graduation rates .................. A-6 

A-2 	 Percentage distribution of persons who passed the General Educational Development 

(GED) exam outside of federal and state contract facilities, by age group: 

1998–2008..................................................................................................................... A-16 

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 .............. A-17 

Appendix C
C-1 	

Standard errors for table 1: Event dropout rates and number and distribution of 

15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out of grades 10–12, by selected 

characteristics: October 2008........................................................................................ C-2 


C-2 	

Standard errors for table 2: Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who 

dropped out of grades 10–12, and number of dropouts and population of 15-

through 24-year-olds who were enrolled: October 1972 through October 2008.......... C-3 


C-3 	

Standard errors for table 3: Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who 

dropped out of grades 10–12, by sex and race/ethnicity: October 1972 through 

October 2008................................................................................................................. C-5 


C-4 	

Standard errors for table 4: Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who 

dropped out of grades 10–12, by family income: October 1972 through October 

2008............................................................................................................................... C-7 


C-5 	

Standard errors for table 6: Status dropout rates and number and distribution of 

dropouts of 16- through 24-year-olds, by selected characteristics: October 2008 ....... C-9 


C-6 	

Standard errors for table 7: Status dropout rates, number of status dropouts, and 

population of 16- through 24-year-olds: October 1972 through October 2008 ............ C-10 


vii

�List of Tables

Table 	

Page

Appendix C
C-7 	

Standard errors for table 8: Status dropout rates of 16- through 24-year-olds, by 

sex and race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2008 ....................................... C-12 


C-8 	

Standard errors for table 9: Status completion rates, and number and distribution
of completers ages 18–24 not currently enrolled in high school or below, by
selected characteristics: October 2008.......................................................................... C-14 


C-9 	

Standard errors for table 10: Status completion rates, number of completers, and 

population of 18- through 24-year-olds: October 1972 through October 2008 ............ C-15 


C-10 	 Standard errors for table 11: Status completion rates of 18- through 24-year-olds
not currently enrolled in high school or below, by sex and race/ethnicity: October
1972 through October 2008 .......................................................................................... C-17 

C-11 	 Standard errors for figure 3: Status dropout rates of 16- through 24-year-olds, by 

race/ethnicity and sex: October 2008 ............................................................................ C-18 

C-12 	 Standard errors for figure 5: Status completion rates of 18- through 24-year-olds
not currently enrolled in high school or below, by race/ethnicity and sex: October
2008............................................................................................................................... C-18 


viii

�List of Figures 

Figure 	

Page

1	

Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out of grades 10–12, 

by family income: October 1972 through October 2008 ................................................. 22 


2	

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

through October 2008 ...................................................................................................... 23 


3	

Status dropout rates of 16- through 24-year-olds, by race/ethnicity and sex: 

October 2008.................................................................................................................... 24 


4	

Status completion rates of 18- through 24-year-olds not currently enrolled in high 

school or below, by race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2008 ....................... 25 


5	

Status completion rates of 18- through 24-year-olds not currently enrolled in high 

school or below, by race/ethnicity and sex: October 2008 .............................................. 26 


6	

Averaged freshman graduation rates of public high school students, by state: School 

year 2007–08.................................................................................................................... 27 


ix

��Introduction 

Dropping out of high school is related to a number of negative outcomes. For example, the
median income of persons ages 18 through 67 who had not completed high school was roughly
$23,000 in 2008.1 By comparison, the median income of persons ages 18 through 67 who
completed their education with at least a high school credential, including a General Educational
Development (GED) certificate, was approximately $42,000. Over a person’s lifetime, this
translates into a loss of approximately $630,000 in income for a person who did not complete
high school compared with a person with at least a high school credential (Rouse 2007).2 Among
adults ages 25 and older, a lower percentage of dropouts are in the labor force compared with
adults who earned a high school credential. Among adults in the labor force, a higher percentage
of dropouts are unemployed compared with adults who earned a high school credential (U.S.
Department of Labor 2010). Further, dropouts ages 25 or older reported being in worse health
than adults who are not dropouts, regardless of income (Pleis, Lucas, and Ward 2009). Dropouts
also make up disproportionately higher percentages of the nation’s prison and death row
inmates.3 Comparing those who drop out of high school with those who complete high school,
the average high school dropout is associated with costs to the economy of approximately
$240,000 over his or her lifetime in terms of lower tax contributions, higher reliance on
Medicaid and Medicare, higher rates of criminal activity, and higher reliance on welfare (Levin
and Belfield 2007).4
This report builds upon a series of National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports
on high school dropout and completion rates that began in 1988. It presents estimates of rates in
2008, provides data about trends in dropout and completion rates over the last three and a half
decades (1972–2008), 5 and examines the characteristics of high school dropouts and high school
1

U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), March 2009. These are not all high school
dropouts: 1.0 percent of persons ages 18 through 67 were enrolled in high school in 2008 (U.S. Department of Commerce,
Census Bureau, Current Population Survey [CPS], October 2008).
2
Rouse estimates a lifetime loss of $550,000 using 2004 March CPS data. The estimate here is adjusted for inflation between
March 2004 and March 2008 using March-to-March consumer price index adjustments.
3
Estimates from the most recent data available indicate that approximately 34 percent of federal and state inmates (data from
2004) and 50 percent of persons on death row (data from 2008) lack a high school credential (U.S. Department of Justice 2004,
2009). Although not strictly comparable because of different age ranges considered, estimates for those 25 and older in the
general population during the same years indicate that about 15 percent were dropouts (U.S. Department of Commerce, Census
Bureau 2004, 2007).
4
Levin and Belfield estimate costs at $209,000 as of 2004. The estimate here is adjusted for inflation between 2004 and 2008
using March 2004 and March 2008 consumer price indexes.
5
Trend analyses have shown a pattern of decline in event dropout rates prior to 1990, a brief upward trend from 1991 through
1995, and then another decline through 2008. As a result, in this report, overall trends from 1972 to 2008 are reported, as well as
separate trends from 1972 through 1990, 1990 through 1995, and 1995 through 2008, to increase the understanding of patterns
over time in these rates.

1


�Introduction

completers in 2008. Four rates are presented to provide a broad picture of high school dropouts
and completers in the United States, with the event dropout rate, the status dropout rate, the
status completion rate, and the averaged freshman graduation rate each contributing unique
information.
•	 The event dropout rate estimates the percentage of high school students who left high
school between the beginning of one school year and the beginning of the next without
earning a high school diploma or an alternative credential (e.g., a GED). This report presents
a national event dropout rate for students attending both public and private schools using the
Current Population Survey (CPS), and state event dropout rates for public high school
students using the Common Core of Data (CCD).6 Event dropout rates can be used to track
annual changes in the dropout behavior of students in the U.S. school system.
•	 The status dropout rate reports the percentage of individuals in a given age range who are
not in school and have not earned a high school diploma or an alternative credential. The rate
is calculated using CPS data. It focuses on an overall age group as opposed to individuals in
the U.S. school system, so it can be used to study general population issues.
•	 The status completion rate indicates the percentage of individuals in a given age range who
are not in high school and who have earned a high school diploma or an alternative
credential, irrespective of when the credential was earned.7 The rate is calculated using CPS
data. It focuses on an overall age group as opposed to individuals in the U.S. school system,
so it can be used to study general population issues.8
•	 The averaged freshman graduation rate estimates the proportion of public high school
freshmen who graduate with a regular diploma 4 years after starting 9th grade. The rate is
calculated using data from the CCD. It focuses on public high school students as opposed to
all high school students or the general population and is designed to provide an estimate of
on-time graduation from high school. Thus, it provides a measure of the extent to which
public high schools are graduating students within the expected period of 4 years.
Data presented in this report are drawn from the annual October Current Population Survey
(CPS), the annual Common Core of Data (CCD) collections, and the annual General Education
Development Testing Service (GEDTS) statistical reports. Data in the CPS files are collected
through household interviews and are representative of the civilian, noninstitutionalized
population in the United States, including students attending public and private schools. The
CCD data are collected from state education agencies about all public schools and school
systems in the United States, and contain aggregates of administrative record data kept by these
agencies that are representative of all public school students in this country. The GEDTS data are
also built from administrative record data kept by the testing service, and contain information
6

These datasets are described briefly in the main text and in more detail in appendix A. 

The status completion rate is not the inverse of the status dropout rate (i.e., status completion does not equal 100 minus the

status dropout rate). The rates are based on different age ranges, and the completion rate excludes high school students from its 

denominator, whereas high school students are included in the denominator of the status dropout rate. 

8
Seastrom et al. (2006a) refer to this rate as the “Current Population Survey High School Completion Indicator.” 

7

2


�Introduction

about all GED test takers (data presented in this report are only for individuals in the 50 states
and the District of Columbia).9
As with all data collections, those used in this report are useful for calculating some types
of estimates, but poorly suited for calculating other types. For example, CPS data are well suited
for studying the civilian, noninstitutionalized population in the United States, including students
attending public and private schools, but do not provide information about military personnel or
individuals residing in group quarters, such as prison inmates or patients in long-term medical
facilities. Data from the CCD are appropriate for studying public school students in a given year,
but do not provide information on private school students. GEDTS data are helpful for
identifying the number of people who take and pass the GED examination in a given year, but do
not contain information about schools that GED test takers attended before taking the GED test.
In addition, none of the datasets track individual students over time, limiting their usefulness for
studying processes and precise time lines associated with completing high school or dropping
out.10
All changes or differences noted in this report were tested using Student’s t statistic and are
statistically significant at the p ≤ .05 level. When significance tests fail to meet the p ≤ .05
criterion and the comparison is of substantive interest, terminology such as “no measurable
difference was found” is used in this report. Regression analysis was used to test for trends
across age groups and over time. Analyses did not include any adjustments for multiple
comparisons. Standard error tables are available in appendix C.

9

Appendix A of this report contains information about the three data collections and describes in detail how the rates reported
here were computed.

10
Several states have student-level administrative record systems that follow student progress over time that can be used for this
kind of analysis. NCES is supporting the development of similar systems across additional states (see
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/slds/ for details), and periodically conducts national-level longitudinal studies of high school
students that can be used for such analysis, as in the High School Longitudinal Study.

3


��Findings 

National Event Dropout Rates
The national event dropout rate presented here is based on data from the CPS and is an
estimate of the percentage of both private and public high school students who left high school
between the beginning of one school year and the beginning of the next without earning a high
school diploma or an alternative credential (e.g., a GED). Specifically, the rate describes the
percentage of youth ages 15 through 24 in the United States who dropped out of grades 10–12
from either public or private schools in the 12 months between one October and the next (e.g.,
October 2007 to October 2008).11 The measure provides information about the rate at which U.S.
high school students are leaving school without a successful outcome. As such, it can be used to
study student experiences in the U.S. secondary school system in a given year. It is not well
suited for studying how many people in the country lack a high school credential irrespective of
whether they attended U.S. high schools, nor does it provide a picture of the dropout problem
more generally because it only measures how many students dropped out in a single year, and
students may reenter the school system after that time. More detail about the definition and
computation of the event dropout rate and other rates in this report can be found in appendix A.
•	 Event dropout rates: On average, 3.5 percent of students who were enrolled in public or
private high schools in October 2007 left school before October 2008 without completing a
high school program (table 1). No measurable change was detected in the event dropout rate
between 2007 and 2008 (3.5 percent in both years); however, since 1972, event dropout rates
have trended downward, from 6.1 percent in 1972 to 3.5 percent in 2008 (figure 1 and table
2).12 Declines occurred primarily from 1972 through 1990, when the rate reached 4.0 percent.
From 1990 through 1995, event rates increased, but then trended downward again from 1995
through 2008. These fluctuations during the 1990s and early to mid-2000s resulted in no
measurable difference between the 1990 and 2008 event dropout rates.
•	 Event dropout rates by sex: There was no measurable difference in the 2008 event dropout
rates for males and females, a pattern generally found since 1972 (tables 1 and 3). Exceptions
to this pattern occurred in 4 years—1974, 1976, 1978, and 2000—when males had
measurably higher event dropout rates than females.

11
Data about 9th-grade dropouts are not available in the Current Population Survey (see appendix A for more information). The
state event dropout rates for public high school students presented later in this report are based on the Common Core of Data,
which includes 9th-graders.
12

Trend analyses were conducted using regressions. See appendix A for more details.

5


�Findings

•	 Event dropout rates by race/ethnicity:13 Between October 2007 and October 2008, Black
and Hispanic students in public and private high schools had higher event dropout rates than
White students (table 1). The event dropout rate was 6.4 percent for Blacks and 5.3 percent
for Hispanics, compared with 2.3 percent for Whites. The general downward trend in event
dropout rates over the three and a half decade period from 1972 through 2008 observed in the
overall population was also found among Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics (table 3).14
However, the decreases happened at different times over this 36-year period for these
racial/ethnic groups. The pattern found among Whites mirrored the overall population: a
decrease in event rates from 1972 through 1990, an increase from 1990 through 1995, and
another decrease from 1995 through 2008. Blacks also experienced a decline from 1972
through 1990, and an increase from 1990 through 1995, but their event dropout rates
fluctuated and no measurable trend was found between 1995 and 2008. Hispanics, on the
other hand, experienced no measurable change in their event dropout rates from 1972
through 1990, and no measurable change from 1990 through 1995, but did experience a
decline from 1995 through 2008.
•	 Event dropout rates by family income: In 2008, the event dropout rate of students living in
low-income families was about four and one-half times greater than the rate of their peers
from high-income families (8.7 percent vs. 2.0 percent) (table 1).15
Students from low-, middle-, and high-income families experienced an overall decline in
event dropout rates during the three-decade period of the mid-1970s through 2008 (figure 1
and table 4). All three groups of students experienced declines in event dropout rates from
1975 through 1990. Those from low-income families had rates that fell from 15.7 percent to
9.5 percent. Students from middle-income families had rates fall from 6.0 percent to 4.3
percent and those from high-income families had rates fall from 2.6 percent to 1.1 percent.
From 1990 to 1995, students from low-income families experienced an upward trend in rates
from 9.5 percent to 13.3 percent, while their peers from middle- and high-income families
experienced no measurable change. In the last 13 years (1995–2008), the event rates for lowincome and middle-income families trended downward. While event dropout rates for
students from high-income families fluctuated and no measurable trend was found during the

13

All of the 2008 tables report data for the following four racial/ethnic categories: White (non-Hispanic), Black (non-Hispanic),
Asian/Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic), and Hispanic. The first three categories consist of individuals who identified as only one
race, and who did not identify as Hispanic. A fourth category consists of Hispanics of all races and racial combinations. For 2008
status dropouts and status completion rates (tables 6 and 9), results for two additional race/ethnic groups are presented: American
Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic) and persons of two or more races (non-Hispanic). Because of small sample sizes, American
Indians/Alaska Natives and persons of two or more races are included in the total but not shown separately for 2008 event
dropout rates and event dropout, status dropout, and status completion results for prior years. For simplicity, the terms “Black,”
“Hispanic,” “Asian/Pacific Islander,” “American Indian/Alaska Native,” and “two or more races” are used in the text of this
report without the “(non-Hispanic)” label.
14

The trend analyses conducted to examine this three-and-a-half-decade period are based on annual rate estimates for each year from
1972 through 2008. Separate trend analyses were also conducted for each racial/ethnic group separately for trends across the three
shorter time periods indicated in the bullet: 1972–1990, 1990–1995, and 1995–2008. Because of small sample sizes for many of the
earlier years, reliable trend analyses could not be conducted for Asians/Pacific Islanders, American Indians/Alaska Natives, and
persons of two or more races.
15
“Low income” is defined here as the lowest 20 percent of all family incomes, while “high income” refers to the top 20 percent
of all family incomes. In 2008, low-income families included those with $18,985 or less in family income, while high-income
families included those with $88,080 or more in family income. For respondents missing data for family income (17.4 percent of
the weighted sample in table 1), cold-deck procedures were used to impute data.

6


�Findings

same 13-year period, there was no measurable difference between their 1995 and 2008 rates
(2.0 percent in both years).
•	 Event dropout rates by age: Students who pursued a high school education past the typical
high school age were at higher risk than others of becoming an event dropout (table 1). The
2008 event dropout rates for students in the typical age range for fall high school enrollment
(ages 15 through 17) were lower than those for older students (ages 20 through 24).
Specifically, 2.4 percent of 15- through 16-year-olds and 3.1 percent of 17-year-olds dropped
out in the 1-year reference period, compared with 14.9 percent of 20- through 24-year-olds.
•	 Event dropout rates by region: In 2008, the event dropout rates for high school students in
the South (4.3 percent) were higher than for their peers in the Northeast (2.3 percent) and
Midwest (2.7 percent), and event dropout rates for students in the West (4.1 percent) were
higher than those for students in the Northeast (table 1).

State Event Dropout Rates for Public High School Students
State-level event dropout rates for public high school students are calculated using data
from 1993 through 2008 from the CCD. The rates reported in this publication reflect the
percentage of public school students who were enrolled in grades 9–12 at some point during the
2007–08 school year but were not enrolled in school in October 2008 and had not earned a high
school diploma or completed a state- or district-approved education program.16 Some state or
district education programs include special education programs and district- or state-sponsored
GED programs. State event dropout rates are useful for evaluating the performance of public
high school systems in reporting states. They do not include information about individuals
outside the public school system. Rates are presented for the District of Columbia and 49 states
that submitted data that could be reported for the 2007–08 school year; a “reporting states” rate
was calculated based on data from the reporting states (table 5). Dropout counts from Vermont
were suppressed due to a high frequency of missing data.
•	 State event dropout rates for 9th- through 12th-grade public high school students: The
2007–08 CCD event dropout rates ranged from 1.7 percent in Indiana and New Jersey to 7.5
percent in Louisiana (table 5). In all, event dropout rates for public school students in grades
9–12 were lower than 3 percent in fifteen states: Indiana and New Jersey, 1.7 percent; Idaho,
2.0 percent; Alabama, 2.2 percent; South Dakota and Wisconsin, 2.3 percent; North Dakota,
2.4 percent; Kansas and Nebraska, 2.5 percent; Pennsylvania, 2.6 percent; Virginia, 2.7
percent; Connecticut, Kentucky, and Minnesota, 2.8 percent; and Iowa, 2.9 percent. Six
states had event dropout rates of 6 percent or more: Delaware, 6.0 percent; Michigan, 6.2
percent; Colorado, 6.4 percent; Arizona, 6.7 percent; Alaska, 7.3 percent; and Louisiana, 7.5
percent.

16

Some states report using an alternative 1-year period from one July to the next. Rates for those states are presented because
event dropout rates based on the July-to-July calendar are comparable to those calculated using an October-to-October calendar
(Winglee et al. 2000).

7


�Findings

•	 Combining data from the 49 reporting states and the District of Columbia, approximately
613,000 public school students dropped out of grade 9–12 during the 2007–08 school year
(data not shown in tables). This translates into an event dropout rate of 4.1 percent.17

National Status Dropout Rates
The status dropout rate measures the percentage of individuals who are not enrolled in high
school and who do not have a high school credential. The status dropout rate is higher than the
event rate in a given year because the status dropout rate includes all dropouts in a particular age
range, regardless of when or where they last attended school, including individuals who may
have never attended school in the United States. Based on the 16- through 24-year-old age range,
the measure provides an indicator of the proportion of young people who lack a high school
credential. While useful for measuring overall educational attainment among young adults in the
United States, the status dropout rate is not useful as an indicator of the performance of schools
because it includes those who never attended school in the United States. Using data from the
CPS, the status dropout rate in this report shows the percentage of young people ages 16 through
24 who are out of school and who have not earned a high school diploma or equivalency
credential (e.g., a GED).
•	 Status dropout rates: In October 2008, approximately 3.0 million 16- through 24-year-olds
were not enrolled in high school and had not earned a high school diploma or alternative
credential (table 6). These status dropouts accounted for 8.0 percent of the 38 million
noninstitutionalized, civilian 16- through 24-year-olds living in the United States.
Among all individuals in this age group, status dropout rates trended downward between
1972 and 2008, from 14.6 percent to 8.0 percent (figure 2 and table 7). The status dropout
rate of 2008 was lower than that of 1990, unlike the event dropout rate where no differences
were detected between these 2 years.
•	 Status dropout rates by sex: Males ages 16–24 had higher status dropout rates than females
in 2008 (8.5 percent vs. 7.5 percent) (table 6).
•	 Status dropout rates by race/ethnicity: The 2008 status dropout rates for persons of two or
more races (4.2 percent), Asian/Pacific Islanders (4.4 percent), and Whites (4.8 percent) were
the lowest among the racial/ethnic groups considered in this report. The Black status dropout
rate was lower than the rate for Hispanics (9.9 percent and 18.3 percent, respectively) (table
6).

17

The number of event dropouts based on CCD data is significantly higher than the number of event dropouts based on CPS
data, after restricting CCD counts to grades 10–12 to align with grade-ranges used in CPS estimates. This may be due in part to
how the different sources of data account for alternative credentials like the GED. Students earning GEDs through public school
systems are generally not counted as dropouts in the CCD, while students who leave the public school system are considered
dropouts. Irrespective of how a GED is obtained, CPS data do not count them as dropouts. When this reporting difference is
accounted for, estimates from both sources are not detectably different.

8


�Findings

Since 1972 the difference between the status dropout rates of Whites and Blacks has
narrowed (figure 2 and table 8). This narrowing of the gap occurred during the 1980s, with
no measurable change during the 1970s or between 1990 and 2008.
The percentage of Hispanics ages 16–24 who were dropouts was consistently higher than that
of Blacks and Whites throughout the 36-year period of 1972–2008 (figure 2 and table 8).
White and Black status dropout rates have fallen significantly since 1972; the rates for
Whites fell from 12.3 to 4.8 percent and the rates for Blacks declined from 21.3 to 9.9
percent. Between 1972 and 1990, Hispanic status dropout rates were generally consistent, but
since 1990 they have demonstrated a downward trend, falling from 32.4 percent to 18.3
percent.
In 2008, some 32.8 percent of Hispanic 16- through 24-year-olds born outside the United
States were status high school dropouts (table 6). Hispanics born in the United States had
lower status dropout rates than immigrant Hispanics (10.5 percent and 10.8 percent for “first
generation” and “second generation or higher,” respectively).18 In each “recency of
immigration” category in table 6, Hispanic youth had higher status dropout rates than nonHispanic youth.
•	 Status dropout rates by sex and race/ethnicity: Dropout rates for Whites and Hispanics
varied by sex (figure 3). Among White students, 5.4 percent of males were status dropouts in
2008 compared with 4.2 percent of females. Hispanic males also had higher status dropout
rates than their female counterparts (19.9 percent vs. 16.7 percent, respectively). No
differences by sex were detected in status dropout rates for Blacks, Asian/Pacific Islanders,
American Indian/Alaska Natives, or persons of two or more races.
•	 Status dropout rates by age: Persons ages 16 and 17 had lower status dropout rates in 2008
(2.2 percent and 5.0 percent, respectively) than 18- through 24-year-olds (7.8 percent to 9.9
percent), at least in part because most 16- and 17-year-olds were still actively pursuing a high
school diploma (table 6).19
•	 Status dropout rates by region: In 2008, the Northeast had the lowest status dropout rates
(5.6 percent) and the South and the West had the highest (8.8 percent and 9.1 percent,
respectively) (table 6). Dropouts were disproportionately concentrated in the South and the
West. In 2008, some 35.9 percent of 16- through 24-year-olds lived in the South while 39.6
percent of all status dropouts lived there. Similarly, 23.8 percent of the 16- through 24-yearold population lived in the West but 27.0 percent of status dropouts lived there. In contrast,
dropouts were underrepresented in the Northeast. Some 17.9 percent of 16- through 24-yearolds lived in the Northeast, but 12.5 percent of status dropouts lived there.

18

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.
19

In 2008, data from the CPS show that high school enrollment rates by age group were 95.2 percent for 16-year-olds, 88.8
percent for 17-year-olds, 27.7 percent for 18-year-olds, 6.6 percent for 19-year-olds, and 0.9 percent for 20- through 24-year-olds
(estimates not shown in tables).

9


�Findings

National Status Completion Rates
The status completion rate indicates the percentage of young people who have left high
school and who hold a high school credential. The rate reported here is based on CPS data and
represents the percentage of 18- through 24-year-olds who are not enrolled in high school and
who have earned a high school diploma or an alternative credential, including a GED certificate.
The status completion rate includes individuals who may have completed their education outside
the United States, so the rate is not suited for measuring the performance of the education system
in this country. The status completion rate is not the inverse of the status dropout rate (i.e., status
completion does not equal 100 minus the status dropout rate). The rates are based on different
age ranges, with the status dropout rate reported for 16- through 24-year-olds and the status
completion rate reported for 18- through 24-year-olds. The completion rate excludes high school
students from its denominator, whereas high school students are included in the denominator of
the status dropout rate.
•	 Status completion rates: In 2008, some 89.9 percent of 18- through 24-year-olds not
enrolled in high school had received a high school diploma or equivalency credential (table
9).20 Overall, status completion rates have increased since 1972 (figure 4 and table 10), but
during the 1970s they remained largely flat. Since 1980, the rate has shown an upward trend,
starting at 83.9 percent in 1980 and rising to 89.9 percent in 2008.
•	 Status completion rates by sex: Females ages 18–24 who were not enrolled in high school
in 2008 had a higher status completion rate (90.5 percent) than their male counterparts (89.3
percent) (table 9).
•	 Status completion rates by race/ethnicity: In 2008, among 18- through 24-year-olds not
currently enrolled in high school, Asians/Pacific Islanders (95.5 percent), Whites (94.2
percent) and persons of two or more races (94.2 percent) had status completion rates of over
90 percent. All three had rates that were higher than those for Blacks (86.9 percent),
American Indians/Alaska Natives (82.5 percent), and Hispanics (75.5 percent) (table 9).
Status completion rates for Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics exhibited no general patterns of
change during the 1970s, but rates trended upward for each group between 1980 and 2008
(figure 4 and table 11).
In 2008, some 59.8 percent of foreign-born21 Hispanics ages 18–24 who were not currently
enrolled in high school had completed high school (table 9). Compared to foreign-born
Hispanics, status completion rates were higher for Hispanics born in the United States (85.1
percent for “first generation” and 85.8 percent for “second generation or higher”), although
in each immigrant category Hispanics had higher status completion rates than non-Hispanics.

20

Considering all 18- through 24-year-olds, irrespective of enrollment status, 84.7 percent held a high school credential in
October 2008 (estimates not shown in tables).
21

Foreign-born refers to people who were born outside of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

10 


�Findings

•	 Status completion rates by sex and race/ethnicity: For Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics,
status completion rates differed by sex (figure 5). In 2008, White and Hispanic females had
higher status completion rates than their male counterparts. Specifically, 94.9 percent of
White females and 77.9 percent of Hispanic females had completed high school in 2008,
compared with 93.6 percent of White males and 73.2 percent of Hispanic males, respectively.
Among Blacks, males had higher status completion rates (89.1 percent vs. 85.0 percent). No
measurable differences by sex were detected between the status completion rates of
American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asians/Pacific Islanders, and persons of two or more
races.
•	 Status completion rates by region: Consistent with status dropout data by region, 18through 24-year-olds in the West, South, and Midwest had lower status completion rates
(88.7 percent, 89.1 percent, and 90.3 percent, respectively) than their contemporaries in the
Northeast (92.7 percent). Additionally, the West had lower rates than the Midwest (table 9).

General Educational Development (GED) Credentials and National Status
Completion Rates
General Educational Development (GED) programs allow individuals who would
otherwise lack a high school credential because they did not complete a regular high school
program of study, to obtain an alternative credential. Not completing a regular high school
program can occur for several reasons including dropping out of high school and immigrating
into the country without ever enrolling in U.S. high schools. The GED is accepted by most
colleges and universities that require a high school diploma for admission, and most companies
that have positions requiring a high school diploma accept the GED as an alternative credential
(American Council on Education 2009). While GEDs provide an important opportunity for those
who do not earn a regular high school diploma to obtain a high school credential, GED recipients
tend to fare significantly worse than those holding regular diplomas across a range of measures.
For example, while GED recipients and regular diploma recipients who complete postsecondary
programs experience the same economic benefits from the programs, GED recipients attend and
complete postsecondary programs at much lower rates than regular diploma holders. Also, while
high school dropouts with relatively low cognitive skills experience improved incomes if they
earn a GED, dropouts with relatively high cognitive skills do not experience increased earnings
after earning a GED (see Boesel, Alsalam, and Smith 1998, and Tyler 2003 for overviews of
GED research).
To better understand how the rate of GED receipt relates to different rates presented in this
report, data from the GED Testing Service are used to estimate the number of GED holders in

11 


�Findings

the civilian, noninstitutionalized population in 2008.22 Estimates are provided for 18- through 24year-olds to correspond to age ranges used for the status completion rates.23
•	 National estimates of 18- through 24-year-olds with a GED in 2008: There were
approximately 1,500,000 persons ages 18 through 24 in 2008 who had passed the GED exam
in 2008 or in prior years (data not shown in tables). This represents 5.5 percent of the
civilian, noninstitutionalized population of 18- through 24-year-olds who were not in high
school in 2008. Subtracting out those who passed the GED exam, the status completion rate
in 2008 for regular high school diploma holders and those holding alternative credentials
other than a GED was 84.4 percent (data not shown in tables).24
Focusing on the 18- through 24-year-old population without consideration of high school
enrollment, approximately 84.7 percent held some form of high school credential in 2008
with 5.2 percent holding a GED and 79.5 percent holding a regular high school diploma or
other alternative credential (data not shown in tables).25

Averaged Freshman Graduation Rates for Public School Students
The averaged freshman graduation rate (AFGR) provides an estimate of the percentage of
public high school students who graduate on time—that is, 4 years after starting 9th grade—with
a regular diploma. The rate uses aggregate student enrollment data to estimate the size of an
incoming freshman class and aggregate counts of the number of diplomas awarded 4 years later.
The incoming freshman class size is estimated by summing the enrollment in 8th grade for 1
year, 9th grade for the next year, and 10th grade for the year after and then dividing by 3. The
averaging is intended to account for higher grade retention rates in the 9th grade. Although not as
accurate as an on-time graduation rate computed from a cohort of students using individual
student record data, this estimate of an on-time graduation rate can be computed with currently
available data. The AFGR was selected from a number of alternative estimates that can be
22

The number of GED holders was based on counts of those who passed the GED exam. Counts of successful GED examinees
each year are published by GEDTS. It is possible to pass the GED exam and not obtain a GED, so estimates here represent an
upper bound of GED holders in the population. To determine how many people in a given age range have earned a GED requires
summation of reported data over multiple years of GEDTS reports. For example, the number of 18- through 24-year-olds in 2008
who had passed the GED exam was estimated by taking the sum of those who passed the exam in 2008 at ages 18–24 plus those
who passed the exam in 2007 at ages 17–23 plus those who passed the exam in 2006 at ages 16–22, and so on. See appendix A of
this report for details of this calculation.

23

Civilians in the noninstitutionalized population are the focus of the status dropout and completion rates. To align the GED
estimates with this population, data from the Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities, 2004 prorated to
2008 and data provided by the Defense Manpower Data Center for active duty military personnel in 2008 were used. See
appendix A of this report for details of how the GED estimates were aligned with the noninstitutionalized population.

24

The CPS data used for the status completion rate include those holding alternative credentials such as a GED in the count of
completers. Other alternative credentials exist so removing GED counts from the counts of completers does not result in a count
of regular high school diploma holders.
25

Similar estimates could be made in reference to the 16- through 24-year-old population, which is the focus of the status
dropout rate. There were approximately 1,597,000 persons ages 16 through 24 in 2008 who had passed the GED exam in 2008 or
prior years (data not shown in tables). This represents 4.3 percent of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of 16- through
24-year-olds in 2008.

12 


�Findings

calculated using cross-sectional data based on a technical review and analysis of a set of
alternative estimates (Seastrom et al. 2006a, 2006b). AFGR estimates are based on the CCD
“State Nonfiscal Survey of Public Elementary/Secondary Education,” with ungraded26
enrollments distributed proportional to reported enrollments by grade. Rates are presented for the
49 states and the District of Columbia that submitted data necessary to estimate AFGR for the
2007–08 school year; a national-level rate was calculated for reporting states based on data from
the 49 states and the District of Columbia. Diploma count data for 2007–08 are missing for
South Carolina.
•	 National averaged freshman graduation rate for public school students: The AFGR
among public school students in the United States for the class of 2007–08 was 74.9 percent
(table 12).
•	 State averaged freshman graduation rates for public school students: For the class of
2007–08, the AFGR ranged from 51.3 percent in Nevada to 89.6 percent in Wisconsin
(figure 6 and table 12). Seventeen states had rates of 80.0 percent or higher—Connecticut,
Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont, and
Wisconsin. Eight states had rates below 70.0 percent—Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and New Mexico—as did the District of Columbia.
•	 Changes in rates from 2006–07 to 2007–08: The AFGR among public school students in
the graduating class of 2007–08 was higher than the rate for the class of 2006–07 (74.9
percent versus 73.9 percent) (table 13).27 A comparison of data from 2007–08 to data from
the prior school year, 2006–07, shows a percentage point or greater increase in the AFGR for
16 states and the District of Columbia. The AFGR decreased by a percentage point or more
for six states during that same time period.

26

Ungraded students are those who are assigned to a class or program that does not have standard grade designations.

27

South Carolina did not report diploma information for 2007–08. Data were available to estimate the number of first-time
freshmen in 2004–05 (the graduating class of 2007–08). If the AFGR for 2006–07 in South Carolina were applied to the estimate
of first-time freshmen in 2004–05, and the freshmen count and resulting diploma count added to national totals, the AFGR for the
United States would have been 74.7 percent in 2007–08.

13 


��References 

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Annual Statistical Report. Washington, DC: Author.
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19 


��Figures 


21

�Figures
Figure 1.—Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out of grades 10–12, by family
Figure 1.—income: October 1972 through October 2008
Percent
20

20

18

18

16

16

14

Low income

14

12

12

10

10

8

Middle income

8
6

6
4
2
0
1972

Total

4
2

High income
1975

1978 1980
1981

0
1984
1985 1987

1990

1993 1995
1996

1999
2000 2002

2005

2008

Year
NOTE: The event dropout rate indicates the percentage of youth ages 15 through 24 who dropped out of grades 10–12 between
one October and the next (e.g., October 2007 to October 2008). Dropping out is defined as leaving school without a high school
diploma or equivalent credential, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Low income is defined as the
bottom 20 percent of all family incomes for the year; middle income is between 20 and 80 percent of all family incomes; and
high income is the top 20 percent of all family incomes. Data on family income are missing for 1974. Estimates 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 Current Population Survey (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.

22 


�Figures
Figure 2.—Status dropout rates of 16- through 24-year-olds, by race/ethnicity: October 1972 through
Figure 2.—October 2008
Percent
40

40

35

35
Hispanic

30
25

30
25

Black, non-Hispanic

20
15
10

20
Total

15
10

White, non-Hispanic

5
0
1972

5

1975

1978 1980
1981

1984
1985 1987

1990

1993 1995
1996

1999
2000 2002

2005

0
2008

Year
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 reflects, in part, small Hispanic sample sizes in earlier years of the Current Population Survey (CPS).
Beginning with 1987, estimates 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.

23 


�Figures
Figure 3.—Status dropout rates of 16- through 24-year-olds, by race/ethnicity and sex: October 2008
Percent
40

35

30

25


19.9
16.7


20
15

10

8.5 7.5

5

8.7

18.6
11.6

11.1

5.4 4.2

3.9 4.9

3.6 ! 4.8!

0
Total

White,
Black,
non-Hispanic non-Hispanic

Hispanic

Asian/
Pacific
Islander,
non-Hispanic

Race/ethnicity
Male

American
Two or
Indian/
more races,
Alaska
non-Hispanic
Native,
non-Hispanic

Female

! Interpret data with caution. Due to relatively large standard errors, estimates are unstable.

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. Respondents were able to identify themselves as being two or more races.

The White (non-Hispanic), Black (non-Hispanic), Asian/Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic), and American Indian/Alaska Native

(non-Hispanic) categories consist of individuals who considered themselves to be one race and who did not identify as Hispanic.

Non-Hispanics who identified themselves as multiracial are included in the Two or more races (non-Hispanic) category. The 

Hispanic category consists of Hispanics of all races and racial combinations.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 2008.


24 


�Figures
Figure 4.—Status completion rates of 18- through 24-year-olds not currently enrolled in high school or
Figure 4.—below, by race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2008
Percent
100

100
White, non-Hispanic

80

Total

80

Black, non-Hispanic

60

60

Hispanic

40

40

20

20

0
1972

1975

1978 1980
1981

1984
1985 1987

1990

1993 1995
1996

1999
2000 2002

2005

0
2008

Year
NOTE: Status completion rates measure the percentage of 18- through 24-year-olds who are not enrolled in high school and
who also hold a high school diploma or equivalent credential, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.
Those still enrolled in high school are excluded from the analysis. 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 reflects, in part, small sample size of Hispanics in earlier years of the Current Population
Survey (CPS). Beginning with 1987, estimates reflect new editing procedures for cases missing school enrollment item data.
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.

25 


�Figures
Figure 5.—Status completion rates of 18- through 24-year-olds not currently enrolled in high school or
Figure 5.—below, by race/ethnicity and sex: October 2008
Percent
100

89.3

90.5

93.6

94.9

89.1

95.1 95.8
85.0

80

73.2

77.9

88.2

95.2

93.1

74.7

60
40
20
0
Total

White,
Black,
non-Hispanic non-Hispanic

Hispanic

Race/ethnicity
Male

Asian/
Pacific
Islander,
non-Hispanic

American
Two or
Indian/
more races,
Alaska
non-Hispanic
Native,
non-Hispanic

Female

NOTE: Status completion rates measure the percentage of 18- through 24-year-olds who are not enrolled in high school and 

who also hold a high school diploma or equivalent credential, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.

Those still enrolled in high school are excluded from the analysis. Respondents were able to identify themselves as being two 

or more races. The White (non-Hispanic), Black (non-Hispanic), Asian/Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic), and American Indian/

Alaska Native (non-Hispanic) categories consist of individuals who considered themselves to be one race and who did not

identify as Hispanic. Non-Hispanics who identified themselves as multiracial are included in the Two or more races 

(non-Hispanic) category. The Hispanic category consists of Hispanics of all races and racial combinations.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 2008.


26 


�Figures
Figure 6.—Averaged freshman graduation rates of public high school students, by state: School year 2007–08

— Not available.

NOTE: The averaged freshman graduation rate (AFGR) is an estimate of the percentage of an entering freshman class graduating in 4 years.

For 2007–08, it equals the total number of diploma recipients in 2007–08 divided by the average membership of the 8th-grade class in

2003–04, the 9th-grade class in 2004–05, and the 10th-grade class in 2005–06. See table 13 in this report for more information about 

these state rates.

SOURCE: Stillwell, R. (2010). Public School Graduates and Dropouts From the Common Core of Data: School Year

2007–08 (NCES 2010-341), table 5.


27 


��Tables 


29

�Tables
Table 1.—Event dropout rates and number and distribution of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out
Table 1.—of grades 10–12, by selected characteristics: October 2008
Event
dropout
rate
(percent)

Number of
event
dropouts
(thousands)

Population
enrolled1
(thousands)

Percent
of all
dropouts

Percent of
population
enrolled

Total

3.5

390

11,058

100.0

100.0

Sex
Male
Female

3.1
4.0

174
216

5,625
5,433

44.6
55.4

50.9
49.1

2.3
6.4
5.3

156
106
101

6,721
1,651
1,898

40.0
27.1
25.9

60.8
14.9
17.2

Characteristic

Race/ethnicity2
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander,
non-Hispanic

4.0 !

Family income3
Low income
Middle income
High income

8.7
3.0
2.0

132
196
61

1,527
6,468
3,063

34.0
50.3
15.7

13.8
58.5
27.7

2.4
3.1
3.6
4.9
14.9

74
118
106
40
51

3,133
3,806
2,959
815
345

19.0
30.4
27.2
10.3
13.1

28.3
34.4
26.8
7.4
3.1

8.1
4.6

35
19

434
418

9.0
4.9

3.9
3.8

3.7
1.4 !

31
11 !

842
780

8.0
2.7 !

7.6
7.1

Age4
15–16
17
18
19
20–24
Recency of immigration
Born outside the 50 states and
District of Columbia
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
First generation5
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
Second generation or higher5
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic

5.5
3.3

17 !

35
259

See notes at end of table.

30 


426

622
7,962

4.3 !

8.9
66.5

3.9

5.6
72.0

�Tables
Table 1.—Event dropout rates and number and distribution of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out
Table 1.—of grades 10–12, by selected characteristics: October 2008—Continued

Characteristic
Region
Northeast
Midwest
South
West

Event
dropout
rate
(percent)

Number of
event
dropouts
(thousands)

Population
enrolled1
(thousands)

Percent
of all
dropouts

Percent of
population
enrolled

2.3
2.7
4.3
4.1

46
71
167
106

1,998
2,640
3,847
2,574

11.8
18.1
42.8
27.3

18.1
23.9
34.8
23.3

! Interpret data with caution. Estimate is unstable because the standard error represents more than 33 percent of the estimate.

This is an estimate of the population of 15- through 24-year-olds enrolled during the previous year in high school based on

the number of students still enrolled in the current year and the number of students who either graduated or dropped out the

previous year.

2
Respondents were able to identify themselves as being two or more races. 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. The Hispanic category consists of Hispanics of all races and racial combinations. Due to small

sample size, the American Indians/Alaska Natives and those who identified themselves as being two or more races, but not

Hispanic are included in the total but are not shown separately.

3
Low income is defined as the bottom 20 percent of all family incomes for 2008; middle income is between 20 and 80 percent

of all family incomes; and high income is the top 20 percent of all family incomes.

4
Age when a person dropped out may be 1 year younger, because the dropout event could occur at any time over a 12-month

period.

5
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 event dropout rate indicates the percentage of youth ages 15 through 24 who dropped out of grades 10–12 between

one October and the next (e.g., October 2007 to October 2008). Dropping out is defined as leaving school without a high school 

diploma or equivalent credential, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Detail may not sum to totals

because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 2008.

1

31 


�Tables
Table 2.	—Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out of grades 10–12, and number of
Table 2.—dropouts and population of 15- through 24-year-olds who were enrolled: October 1972 through
Table 2.—October 2008

Year2

Event
dropout rate
(percent)

Number of
event dropouts
(thousands)

Population
enrolled1
(thousands)

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

6.1
6.3
6.7
5.8
5.9

647
674
735
631
641

10,550
10,736
10,894
10,875
10,844

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

6.5
6.7
6.7
6.1
5.9

729
739
745
655
636

11,178
11,012
11,044
10,758
10,746

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986

5.5
5.2
5.1
5.2
4.7

573
531
504
502
462

10,435
10,146
9,828
9,597
9,828

1987
1988
1989
1990
1991

4.1
4.8
4.5
4.0
4.0

405
460
403
347
348

9,819
9,613
9,001
8,675
8,700

1992
1993
1994
1995
1996

4.4
4.5
5.3
5.7
5.0

383
381
497
544
485

8,716
8,549
9,374
9,509
9,612

1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

4.6
4.8
5.0
4.8
5.0

454
479
519
488
505

9,984
10,079
10,464
10,126
10,187

2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

3.6
4.0
4.7
3.8
3.8

367
429
486
414
407

10,254
10,698
10,385
10,870
10,849

See notes at end of table.

32 


�Tables
Table 2.	—Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out of grades 10–12, and number of
Table 2.—dropouts and population of 15- through 24-year-olds who were enrolled: October 1972 through
Table 2.—October 2008—Continued

Year2

Event
dropout rate
(percent)

Number of
event dropouts
(thousands)

Population
enrolled1
(thousands)

2007
2008

3.5
3.5

383
390

10,967
11,058

1

This is an estimate of the population of 15- through 24-year-olds enrolled during the previous year in high school based on

the number of students still enrolled in the current year and the number of students who either graduated or dropped out the

previous year.

2
Estimates beginning in 1987 reflect new editing procedures for cases with missing data on school enrollment items. Estimates

beginning in 1992 reflect new wording of the educational attainment item. Estimates beginning in 1994 reflect changes due to

newly instituted computer-assisted interviewing. For details about changes in the Current Population Survey (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. 

NOTE: The event dropout rate indicates the percentage of youth ages 15 through 24 who dropped out of grades 10–12 between

one October and the next (e.g., October 2007 to October 2008). Dropping out is defined as leaving school without a high school

diploma or equivalent credential, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.


33 


�Tables
Table 3.	—Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out of grades 10–12, by sex and
Table 3.—race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2008
Sex (percent)

Race/ethnicity (percent)1
White, nonBlack, nonHispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic

Year2

Total
(percent)

Male

Female

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

6.1
6.3
6.7
5.8
5.9

5.9
6.8
7.4
5.4
6.6

6.3
5.7
6.0
6.1
5.2

5.3
5.5
5.8
5.0
5.6

9.5
9.9
11.6
8.7
7.4

11.2
10.0
9.9
10.9
7.3

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

6.5
6.7
6.7
6.1
5.9

6.9
7.5
6.8
6.7
6.0

6.1
5.9
6.7
5.5
5.8

6.1
5.8
6.0
5.2
4.8

8.6
10.2
9.9
8.2
9.7

7.8
12.3
9.8
11.7
10.7

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986

5.5
5.2
5.1
5.2
4.7

5.8
5.8
5.4
5.4
4.7

5.1
4.7
4.8
5.0
4.7

4.7
4.4
4.4
4.3
3.7

7.8
7.0
5.7
7.8
5.4

9.2
10.1
11.1
9.8
11.9

1987
1988
1989
1990
1991

4.1
4.8
4.5
4.0
4.0

4.3
5.1
4.5
4.0
3.8

3.8
4.4
4.5
3.9
4.2

3.5
4.2
3.5
3.3
3.2

6.4
5.9
7.8
5.0
6.0

5.4 !
10.4
7.8 !
7.9
7.3

1992
1993
1994
1995
1996

4.4
4.5
5.3
5.7
5.0

3.9
4.6
5.2
6.2
5.0

4.9
4.3
5.4
5.3
5.1

3.7
3.9
4.2
4.5
4.1

5.0
5.8
6.6
6.4
6.7

8.2
6.7
10.0
12.4
9.0

1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

4.6
4.8
5.0
4.8
5.0

5.0
4.6
4.6
5.5
5.6

4.1
4.9
5.4
4.1
4.3

3.6
3.9
4.0
4.1
4.1

5.0
5.2
6.5
6.1
6.3

9.5
9.4
7.8
7.4
8.8

2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

3.6
4.0
4.7
3.8
3.8

3.7
4.2
5.1
4.2
4.1

3.4
3.8
4.3
3.4
3.4

2.6
3.2
3.7
2.8
2.9

4.9
4.8
5.7
7.3
3.8

5.8
7.1
8.9
5.0
7.0

See notes at end of table.

34

�Tables
Table 3.—Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out of grades 10–12, by sex and
Table 3.—race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2008—Continued
Sex (percent)
Year2

Total
(percent)

Male

Female

2007
2008

3.5
3.5

3.7
3.1

3.3
4.0

Race/ethnicity (percent)1
White, nonBlack, nonHispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic
2.2
2.3

4.5
6.4

6.0
5.3

! Interpret data with caution. Estimate is unstable because the standard error represents more than 33 percent of the estimate.

Beginning in 2003, respondents were able to identify themselves as being “more than one race.” The 2003 through 2008 White,

non-Hispanic and Black, non-Hispanic categories consist of individuals who considered themselves to be one race and who did

not identify as Hispanic. 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 table, American Indians/Alaska Natives and Asians/Pacific Islanders are included

in the totals but not shown separately. The “more than one race” category is also included in the total in 2003 through 2008 

but not shown separately due to small sample size.

2
Estimates beginning in 1987 reflect new editing procedures for cases with missing data on school enrollment items. Estimates

beginning in 1992 reflect new wording of the educational attainment item. Estimates beginning in 1994 reflect changes due to

newly instituted computer-assisted interviewing. For details about changes in the Current Population Survey (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.

NOTE: The event dropout rate indicates the percentage of youth ages 15 through 24 who dropped out of grades 10–12 between

one October and the next (e.g., October 2007 to October 2008). Dropping out is defined as leaving school without a high school

diploma or equivalent credential, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.

1

35 


�Tables
Table 4.—Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out of grades 10–12, by family
Table 4.—income: October 1972 through October 2008
Family income (percent)1
Middle income

Year2

Total
(percent)

Low income

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

6.1
6.3
6.7
5.8
5.9

14.1
17.3
—
15.7
15.4

6.7
7.0
—
6.0
6.8

2.5
1.8
—
2.6
2.1

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

6.5
6.7
6.7
6.1
5.9

15.5
17.4
17.1
15.8
14.4

7.6
7.3
6.9
6.4
6.2

2.2
3.0
3.6
2.5
2.8

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986

5.5
5.2
5.1
5.2
4.7

15.2
10.4
13.9
14.2
10.9

5.6
6.0
5.1
5.2
5.1

1.8
2.2
1.8
2.1
1.6

1987
1988
1989
1990
1991

4.1
4.8
4.5
4.0
4.0

10.3
13.7
10.0
9.5
10.6

4.7
4.7
5.0
4.3
4.0

1.0
1.3
1.1
1.1
1.0

1992
1993
1994
1995
1996

4.4
4.5
5.3
5.7
5.0

10.9
12.3
13.0
13.3
11.1

4.4
4.3
5.2
5.7
5.1

1.3
1.3
2.1
2.0
2.1

1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

4.6
4.8
5.0
4.8
5.0

12.3
12.7
11.0
10.0
10.7

4.1
3.8
5.0
5.2
5.4

1.8
2.7
2.1
1.6
1.7

2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

3.6
4.0
4.7
3.8
3.8

7.7
7.5
10.4
8.9
9.0

3.6
4.6
4.6
3.8
3.5

1.7
1.4
2.5
1.5
2.0

See notes at end of table.

36 


High income

�Tables
Table 4.	—Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out of grades 10–12, by family
Table 4.—income: October 1972 through October 2008—Continued

Year2

Total
(percent)

Low income

2007
2008

3.5
3.5

8.8
8.7

Family income (percent)1
Middle income
3.5
3.0

High income
0.9
2.0

— Not available.

Low income is defined as the bottom 20 percent of all family incomes for the year; middle income is between 20 and 80 percent

of all family incomes; and high income is the top 20 percent of all family incomes.

2
Estimates beginning in 1987 reflect new editing procedures for cases with missing data on school enrollment items. Estimates

beginning in 1992 reflect new wording of the educational attainment item. Estimates beginning in 1994 reflect changes due to

newly instituted computer-assisted interviewing. For details about changes in the Current Population Survey (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.

NOTE: The event dropout rate indicates the percentage of youth ages 15 through 24 who dropped out of grades 10–12 between

one October and the next (e.g., October 2007 to October 2008). Dropping out is defined as leaving school without a high school

diploma or equivalent credential, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.

1

37 


�Tables
Table 5.—Event dropout rates for public school students in grades 9–12, by state: School years 1993–94
Table 5.—through 2007–08
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
–94 –95 –96 –97 –98 –99 –2000 –01 –02 –03 –04 –05 –06 –07 –08

State
Reporting states1
2

Alabama
Alaska3
Arizona2
Arkansas
California

—
5.8
—
13.7
5.3
—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

3.9

4.1

3.9

3.9

4.4

4.1

6.2 5.6 5.3
— 5.6 4.9
9.6 10.2 10.0
4.9 4.1 5.0
—
—
—

4.8
4.6
9.4
5.4
—

4.4
5.3
8.4
6.0
—

4.5 4.1 3.7
5.5 8.2 8.1
— 10.9 10.5
5.7 5.3 5.3
—
—
—

3.5
7.6
8.5
4.6
3.2

3.3
7.0
6.7
4.7
3.3

2.8
8.2
6.2
4.3
3.1

2.5
8.0
7.6
3.1
3.7

2.3
7.3
7.6
4.6
5.5

2.2
7.3
6.7
4.7
5.0

Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida2

—
—
4.8 4.9
4.6 4.6
9.5 10.6
—
—

—
4.8
4.5
—
—

—
—
3.9 3.5
4.5 4.7
— 12.8
—
—

—
3.3
4.1
8.2
—

—
3.1
4.1
7.2
—

—
3.0
4.2
—
4.4

—
2.6
6.2
—
3.7

3.5
2.1
5.5
—
3.4

5.4
‡
6.1
—
3.4

7.8
‡
5.3
—
3.5

7.8
2.0
5.5
‡
4.1

6.9
2.1
5.5
7.1
3.8

6.4
2.8
6.0
5.5
3.3

Georgia
Hawaii3
Idaho3
Illinois2
Indiana

8.7
—
8.5
6.8
—

9.0
—
9.2
6.6
—

8.5
—
8.0
6.4
—

8.2
—
7.2
6.6
—

7.4
5.3
6.9
6.5
—

7.2
5.3
—
6.2
—

7.2
5.7
5.6
6.0
—

6.5
5.1
3.9
6.4
2.3

5.8
4.7
3.9
5.7
2.2

5.4
4.8
3.1
5.3
2.5

5.6
4.7
3.0
4.5
2.5

5.2
4.7
2.7
4.0
2.9

4.6
5.4
2.6
4.0
2.7

4.3
5.4
2.0
5.2
1.7

Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana4
Maine

3.2
—
—
4.7
3.1

3.5 3.1 2.9 2.9 2.5
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
— 5.2 4.9
3.5 11.6 11.6 11.4 10.0
3.4 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.3

2.5
—
5.0
9.2
3.3

2.7
3.2
4.6
8.3
3.1

2.4
3.1
4.0
7.0
2.8

1.9
2.4
3.3
7.5
2.8

‡
2.2
3.3
7.9
2.7

2.2
2.1
3.5
7.5
2.8

2.2
2.4
3.3
8.4
5.4

2.3
2.7
3.0
7.4
5.3

2.9
2.5
2.8
7.5
4.4

Maryland2
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi

5.2
3.7
—
5.1
6.1

5.2
3.6
—
5.2
6.4

Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey2
New Mexico
New York3
North Carolina
North Dakota

4.3
3.2
—
4.9
5.8

4.4
3.6
—
4.5
5.0

4.1
3.5
—
4.3
4.9

4.1
3.4
—
4.0
4.6

3.9
—
—
3.8
3.9

3.6
3.3
4.5
3.8
3.7

4.1
3.7
4.6
‡
2.9

3.9
3.8
3.9
‡
2.8

3.9
3.4
3.5
3.1
3.0

3.8
3.8
7.4
3.0
4.3

3.6
3.4
6.2
2.8
4.6

7.0 7.0
—
—
4.6 4.5
9.8 10.3
—
—

6.5 5.8 5.2
5.6 5.1 4.4
4.5 4.3 4.4
9.6 10.2 10.1
—
—
—

4.8
4.5
4.2
7.9
—

4.4
4.2
4.0
6.2
—

4.2
4.2
4.0
5.2
5.4

3.6
3.9
4.2
6.4
4.0

3.3
3.6
3.1
6.1
3.8

3.3
3.4
2.8
6.0
3.8

3.7
3.4
2.7
5.8
3.5

4.1
3.7
2.8
7.7
3.2

3.7
3.7
2.8
4.5
3.2

4.9
5.2
2.5
5.1
3.0

4.3
8.1
—
—
2.7

4.1
8.3
—
—
2.5

3.1
6.7
4.0
—
2.4

3.1
6.0
4.1
—
2.7

2.8
5.3
3.8
6.3
2.2

2.5
5.2
7.1
5.7
2.0

1.8
4.7
5.5
5.2
2.2

‡
5.2
5.6
5.2
2.0

‡
4.2
5.7
5.2
1.9

1.7
5.5
4.4
‡
2.1

2.0
6.1
5.3
5.7
2.3

1.7
5.2
3.9
5.2
2.4

4.0
8.5
—
—
2.5

4.8
3.4
—
5.2
6.2

4.9
3.4
—
5.5
6.0

7.3
5.2
6.7
6.9
—

3.7
7.5
—
—
2.7

3.5
7.1
3.2
—
2.8

See notes at end of table.

38 


�Tables
Table 5.—Event dropout rates for public school students in grades 9–12, by state: School years 1993–94
Table 5.—through 2007–08—Continued
State

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
–94 –95 –96 –97 –98 –99 –2000 –01 –02 –03 –04 –05 –06 –07 –08

Ohio3
Oklahoma3
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island

—
4.6
7.3
3.8
4.9

—
5.8
7.1
4.1
4.6

—
5.7
7.0
4.0
4.6

—
5.9
—
3.9
4.7

—
5.8
6.8
3.9
4.9

—
5.2
6.3
3.7
4.5

—
5.4
6.2
4.0
4.8

—
5.2
5.3
3.6
5.0

3.1
4.4
4.9
3.3
4.3

3.0
4.0
4.4
3.2
4.0

3.3
3.9
—
2.9
3.4

3.5
3.5
—
2.9
4.1

4.1
3.6
4.6
2.8
4.1

4.5
3.5
4.6
—
5.8

4.3
3.1
3.8
2.6
5.3

South Carolina
South Dakota3
Tennessee2
Texas
Utah

—
5.3
4.8
—
3.1

—
5.3
5.0
—
3.5

—
5.7
4.9
—
4.4

—
4.5
5.1
—
4.5

—
3.1
5.0
—
5.2

—
4.5
4.6
—
4.7

—
3.5
4.2
5.0
4.1

3.3
3.9
4.3
4.2
3.7

3.3
2.8
3.8
3.8
3.7

3.2
3.3
3.2
3.6
3.9

3.4
4.2
3.3
3.6
3.8

3.3
4.4
2.7
3.6
3.7

—
4.4
2.8
4.3
3.3

3.9
3.9
3.1
4.0
3.1

3.9
2.3
3.9
4.0
4.2

Vermont2
Virginia3
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin3
Wyoming3

4.8
4.8
—
3.8
3.1
6.5

4.7
5.2
—
4.2
2.7
6.7

5.3
4.7
—
3.8
2.4
5.7

5.0
4.6
—
4.1
2.7
6.2

5.2
4.8
—
4.1
2.8
6.4

4.6
4.5
—
4.9
1.8
5.1

4.7
3.9
—
4.2
2.6
5.7

4.7
3.5
—
4.2
2.3
6.4

4.0
2.9
7.1
3.7
1.9
5.8

3.5
3.0
6.2
3.7
2.0
4.5

2.8
2.8
6.5
4.3
‡
4.6

2.6
2.5
4.5
4.1
2.4
4.8

‡
2.7
5.6
3.9
2.2
5.7

—
2.6
5.1
4.0
2.2
5.1

—
2.7
5.7
4.4
2.3
5.0

— Not available. These states do not report dropouts that are consistent with the NCES definition.
‡ Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

1
Average event dropout rate for all reporting states. Prior to 2002–03, too few states reported to calculate a reporting states total.

2
These states used an alternative calendar for each year shown, reporting students who drop out between one July and the next.

The rates from both calendar approaches are comparable (see Winglee et al. 2000).
3
The following states reported data using the alternative calendar of one July to the next in the years indicated: Alaska (1995–96
and 1999–2000 through 2001–02); Hawaii (2000–01); Idaho (1993–94 through 1998–99); New York (1998–99 and 2000–01
through 2003–04); Ohio (1993–94); Oklahoma (1993–94 through 2000–01); South Dakota (1993–94 through 1998–99);
Virginia (1993–94 through 1999–2000); Wisconsin (1993–94 through 1996–97 and 1998–99); and Wyoming (1993–94).
4
Effective in the 1995–96 school year, Louisiana changed its dropout data collection from school-level aggregate counts
reported to districts to an individual student-record system. The apparent increase in the dropout rate is partly due to the
resulting increased ability to track students.
NOTE: These event dropout rates measure the percentage of public school students in grades 9–12 who dropped out of school
between one October and the next (e.g., October 2007 to October 2008). Data are reported by states to the U.S. Department of
Education, National Center for Education Statistics. The Common Core of Data (CCD) includes public school students only.
Some estimates differ from those in previously published reports because of updates to the estimates.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (n.d.) Documentation to the NCES
Common Core of Data Local Education Agency Universe Dropout and Completion Data File: School Years 1991–92 Through
1996–97 , tables 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d; Sable, J., and Naum, J. (2004a), Documentation to the NCES Common Core of Data Local
Education Agency Universe Survey Dropout and Completion Data File: School Year 1997–98 (NCES 2001-302R), table E-1;
Sable, J., and Naum, J. (2004b). Documentation to the NCES Common Core of Data Local Education Agency Universe Survey
Dropout and Completion Data File: School Year 1998–99 (NCES 2002-310R), table E-3; Sable, J., and Naum, J. (2004c).
Documentation to the NCES Common Core of Data Local Education Agency Universe Survey Dropout and Completion Data
File: School Year 1999–2000 (NCES 2002-384R), table E-3; Sable, J., and Naum, J. (2004d). Documentation to the NCES
Common Core of Data Local Education Agency Universe Survey Dropout and Completion Data File: School Year 2000–01
(NCES 2002-315R), table E-3; Sable, J., Naum, J., and Thomas, J.M. (2004). Documentation to the NCES Common Core of
Data Local Education Agency Universe Survey Dropout and Completion Data File: School Year 2001–02 (NCES 2005-349),
table E-2; Chapman, C., and Hoffman, L. (2007). Event Dropout Rates for Public School Students in Grades 9–12: 2002–03
and 2003–04 (NCES 2007-026), table 1; Stillwell, R. and Hoffman, L. (2009). Public School Graduates and Dropouts From
the Common Core of Data: School Year 2005–06 (NCES 2008-353rev), table 7; Stillwell, R. (2009). Public School Graduates
and Dropouts From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2006–07 (NCES 2010-313), table 4; Stillwell, R. (2010). Public
School Graduates and Dropouts From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2007–08 (NCES 2010-341), table 7.

39 


�Tables
Table 6.—Status dropout rates and number and distribution of dropouts of 16- through 24-year-olds, by
Table 6.—selected characteristics: October 2008
Status
dropout
rate
(percent)

Number
of status
dropouts
(thousands)

Population
(thousands)

Percent
of all
dropouts

Percent of
population

Total

8.0

3,010

37,569

100.0

100.0

Sex
Male
Female

8.5
7.5

1,606
1,403

18,948
18,621

53.4
46.6

50.4
49.6

4.8
9.9
18.3

1,103
535
1,232

22,956
5,387
6,721

36.7
17.8
40.9

61.1
14.3
17.9

4.4

67

1,504

2.2

4.0

14.6

43

294

1.4

0.8

4.2

30

706

1.0

1.9

2.2
5.0
7.8
9.9
9.5

93
216
337
413
1,951

4,269
4,349
4,332
4,160
20,459

3.1
7.2
11.2
13.7
64.8

11.4
11.6
11.5
11.1
54.5

32.8
5.5

766
104

2,334
1,908

25.4
3.5

6.2
5.1

10.5
3.1

254
72

2,419
2,326

8.4
2.4

6.4
6.2

10.8
6.0

213
1,602

1,968
26,615

7.1
53.2

5.2
70.8

Characteristic

Race/ethnicity1
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander,
non-Hispanic
American Indian/Alaska Native,
non-Hispanic
Two or more races,
non-Hispanic
Age
16
17
18
19
20–24
Recency of immigration
Born outside the 50 states and
District of Columbia
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
First generation2
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
Second generation or higher2
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
See notes at end of table.

40 


�Tables
Table 6.—Status dropout rates and number and distribution of dropouts of 16- through 24-year-olds, by
Table 6.—selected characteristics: October 2008—Continued

Characteristic
Region
Northeast
Midwest
South
West

Status
dropout
rate
(percent)

Number
of status
dropouts
(thousands)

Population
(thousands)

Percent
of all
dropouts

Percent of
population

5.6
7.5
8.8
9.1

377
631
1,191
811

6,708
8,414
13,496
8,949

12.5
21.0
39.6
27.0

17.9
22.4
35.9
23.8

1

Respondents were able to identify themselves as being two or more races. The White (non-Hispanic), Black (non-Hispanic),
Asian/Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic), and American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic) categories consist of individuals
who considered themselves to be one race and who did not identify as Hispanic. Non-Hispanics who identified themselves
as multiracial are included in the Two or more races (non-Hispanic) category. The Hispanic category consists of Hispanics of
all races and racial combinations.
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 credentials include high school diplomas and equivalent credentials, such as a
General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 2008.

41 


�Tables
Table 7.—Status dropout rates, number of status dropouts, and population of 16- through 24-year-olds:
Table 7.—October 1972 through October 2008

Year1

Status
dropout rate
(percent)

Number of
status dropouts
(thousands)

Population
(thousands)

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

14.6
14.1
14.3
13.9
14.1

4,769
4,717
4,847
4,823
4,980

32,643
33,430
33,968
34,700
35,222

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

14.1
14.2
14.6
14.1
13.9

5,031
5,113
5,264
5,085
5,143

35,658
35,931
36,131
36,143
36,945

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986

13.9
13.7
13.1
12.6
12.2

5,056
4,905
4,626
4,325
4,141

36,452
35,884
35,204
34,382
33,945

1987
1988
1989
1990
1991

12.7
12.9
12.6
12.1
12.5

4,252
4,230
4,038
3,797
3,881

33,452
32,893
32,007
31,443
31,171

1992
1993
1994
1995
1996

11.0
11.0
11.5
12.0
11.1

3,410
3,396
3,727
3,876
3,611

30,944
30,845
32,560
32,379
32,452

1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

11.0
11.8
11.2
10.9
10.7

3,624
3,942
3,829
3,776
3,774

32,960
33,445
34,173
34,568
35,195

2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

10.5
9.9
10.3
9.4
9.3

3,721
3,552
3,766
3,458
3,462

35,495
36,017
36,504
36,761
37,047

See notes at end of table.

42 


�Tables
Table 7.—Status dropout rates, number of status dropouts, and population of 16- through 24-year-olds:
Table 7.—October 1972 through October 2008—Continued

Year1

Status
dropout rate
(percent)

Number of
status dropouts
(thousands)

Population
(thousands)

2007
2008

8.7
8.0

3,278
3,010

37,480
37,569

1

Estimates beginning in 1987 reflect new editing procedures for cases with missing data on school enrollment items. Estimates

beginning in 1992 reflect new wording of the educational attainment item. Estimates beginning in 1994 reflect changes due to

newly instituted computer-assisted interviewing. For details about changes in the Current Population Survey (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.

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.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.


43 


�Tables
Table 8.	—Status dropout rates of 16- through 24-year-olds, by sex and race/ethnicity: October 1972
Table 8.—through October 2008
Sex (percent)

Race/ethnicity (percent)1
White, nonBlack, nonHispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic

Total
(percent)

Male

Female

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

14.6
14.1
14.3
13.9
14.1

14.1
13.7
14.2
13.3
14.1

15.1
14.5
14.4
14.5
14.2

12.3
11.6
11.9
11.4
12.0

21.3
22.2
21.2
22.9
20.5

34.3
33.5
33.0
29.2
31.4

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

14.1
14.2
14.6
14.1
13.9

14.5
14.6
15.0
15.1
15.1

13.8
13.9
14.2
13.1
12.8

11.9
11.9
12.0
11.4
11.4

19.8
20.2
21.1
19.1
18.4

33.0
33.3
33.8
35.2
33.2

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986

13.9
13.7
13.1
12.6
12.2

14.5
14.9
14.0
13.4
13.1

13.3
12.5
12.3
11.8
11.4

11.4
11.2
11.0
10.4
9.7

18.4
18.0
15.5
15.2
14.2

31.7
31.6
29.8
27.6
30.1

1987
1988
1989
1990
1991

12.7
12.9
12.6
12.1
12.5

13.3
13.5
13.6
12.3
13.0

12.2
12.2
11.7
11.8
11.9

10.4
9.6
9.4
9.0
8.9

14.1
14.5
13.9
13.2
13.6

28.6
35.8
33.0
32.4
35.3

1992
1993
1994
1995
1996

11.0
11.0
11.5
12.0
11.1

11.3
11.2
12.3
12.2
11.4

10.7
10.9
10.6
11.7
10.9

7.7
7.9
7.7
8.6
7.3

13.7
13.6
12.6
12.1
13.0

29.4
27.5
30.0
30.0
29.4

1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

11.0
11.8
11.2
10.9
10.7

11.9
13.3
11.9
12.0
12.2

10.1
10.3
10.5
9.9
9.3

7.6
7.7
7.3
6.9
7.3

13.4
13.8
12.6
13.1
10.9

25.3
29.5
28.6
27.8
27.0

2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

10.5
9.9
10.3
9.4
9.3

11.8
11.3
11.6
10.8
10.3

9.2
8.4
9.0
8.0
8.3

6.5
6.3
6.8
6.0
5.8

11.3
10.9
11.8
10.4
10.7

25.7
23.5
23.8
22.4
22.1

Year

2

See notes at end of table.

44

�Tables
Table 8.	—Status dropout rates of 16- through 24-year-olds, by sex and race/ethnicity: October 1972
Table 8.—through October 2008—Continued
Sex (percent)
Year

2

2007
2008

Total
(percent)

Male

Female

8.7
8.0

9.8
8.5

7.7
7.5

1

Race/ethnicity (percent)1
White, nonBlack, nonHispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic
5.3
4.8

8.4
9.9

21.4
18.3

Beginning in 2003, respondents were able to identify themselves as being “more than one race.” The 2003 through 2008 White,
non-Hispanic and Black, non-Hispanic categories consist of individuals who considered themselves to be one race and who did
not identify as Hispanic. 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 table, American Indians/Alaska Natives and Asians/Pacific Islanders are included
in the totals but not shown separately. The “more than one race” category is also included in the total in 2003 through 2008
but not shown separately due to small sample size.
2
Estimates beginning in 1987 reflect new editing procedures for cases with missing data on school enrollment items. Estimates
beginning in 1992 reflect new wording of the educational attainment item. Estimates beginning in 1994 reflect changes due to
newly instituted computer-assisted interviewing. For details about changes in the Current Population Survey (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.
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.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.

45 


�Tables
Table 9.—Status completion rates, and number and distribution of completers ages 18–24 not currently
Table 9.—enrolled in high school or below, by selected characteristics: October 2008
Completion
rate
(percent)

Number of
completers
(thousands)

Population
(thousands)

Percent
of all
completers

Percent of
population

Total

89.9

24,518

27,270

100.0

100.0

Sex
Male
Female

89.3
90.5

12,169
12,349

13,626
13,644

49.6
50.4

50.0
50.0

94.2
86.9
75.5

16,018
3,254
3,606

16,998
3,744
4,773

65.3
13.3
14.7

62.3
13.7
17.5

95.5

1,045

1,094

4.3

4.0

Characteristic

Race/ethnicity1
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander,
non-Hispanic
American Indian/Alaska Native,
non-Hispanic
Two or more races,
non-Hispanic

82.5

177

215

0.7

0.8

94.2

419

445

1.7

1.6

Age
18–19
20–21
22–24

89.0
91.0
89.7

6,237
7,235
11,047

7,010
7,951
12,308

25.4
29.5
45.1

25.7
29.2
45.1

59.8
93.7

1,104
1,442

1,846
1,539

4.5
5.9

6.8
5.6

85.1
96.2

1,349
1,579

1,584
1,642

5.5
6.4

5.8
6.0

85.8
92.6

1,153
17,892

1,343
19,315

4.7
73.0

4.9
70.8

Recency of immigration
Born outside the 50 states and
District of Columbia
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
First generation2
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
Second generation or higher2
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
See notes at end of table.

46 


�Tables
Table 9.—Status completion rates, and number and distribution of completers ages 18–24 not currently
Table 9.—enrolled in high school or below, by selected characteristics: October 2008—Continued

Characteristic
Region
Northeast
Midwest
South
West

Completion
rate
(percent)

Number of
completers
(thousands)

Population
(thousands)

Percent
of all
completers

Percent of
population

92.7
90.3
89.1
88.7

4,530
5,396
8,737
5,854

4,888
5,977
9,804
6,601

18.5
22.0
35.6
23.9

17.9
21.9
36.0
24.2

1

Respondents were able to identify themselves as being two or more races. The White (non-Hispanic), Black (non-Hispanic), 

Asian/Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic), and American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic) categories consist of individuals

who considered themselves to be one race and who did not identify as Hispanic. Non-Hispanics who identified themselves as

multiracial are included in the Two or more races (non-Hispanic) category. The Hispanic category consists of Hispanics of all 

races and racial combinations.

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: Status completion rates measure the percentage of 18- through 24-year-olds who are not enrolled in high school and

who also hold a high school diploma or equivalent credential, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.

Those still enrolled in high school are excluded from the analysis. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 2008.


47 


�Tables
Table 10.—Status completion rates, number of completers, and population of 18- through 24-year-olds:
Table 10.—October 1972 through October 2008

Year1

Completion
rate
(percent)

Number of
completers
(thousands)

Population
(thousands)

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

82.8
83.7
83.6
83.8
83.5

19,623
20,377
20,724
21,326
21,677

23,688
24,349
24,794
25,436
25,953

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

83.6
83.6
83.1
83.9
83.8

22,008
22,308
22,421
22,746
23,342

26,321
26,697
26,982
27,122
27,863

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986

83.8
83.9
84.7
85.4
85.5

23,290
22,988
22,871
22,349
21,766

27,790
27,399
27,014
26,168
25,453

1987
1988
1989
1990
1991

84.7
84.5
84.7
85.6
84.9

21,071
20,838
20,420
20,269
19,831

24,869
24,650
24,102
23,689
23,369

1992
1993
1994
1995
1996

86.4
86.2
85.8
85.3
86.2

19,874
19,682
20,538
20,102
20,074

23,004
22,842
23,946
23,571
23,277

1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

85.9
84.8
85.9
86.5
86.5

20,241
20,451
21,091
21,743
22,084

23,569
24,113
24,540
25,138
25,543

2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

86.6
87.1
86.8
87.6
87.8

22,249
22,508
22,991
23,010
23,331

25,697
25,831
26,476
26,270
26,568

See notes at end of table.

48

�Tables
Table 10.—Status completion rates, number of completers, and population of 18- through 24-year-olds:
Table 10.—October 1972 through October 2008—Continued

Year1

Completion
rate
(percent)

Number of
completers
(thousands)

Population
(thousands)

2007
2008

89.0
89.9

24,100
24,518

27,086
27,270

1

Estimates beginning in 1987 reflect new editing procedures for cases with missing data on school enrollment items. Estimates

beginning in 1992 reflect new wording of the educational attainment item. Estimates beginning in 1994 reflect changes due to

newly instituted computer-assisted interviewing. For details about changes in the Current Population Survey (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.

NOTE: Status completion rates measure the percentage of 18- through 24-year-olds who are not enrolled in high school and who

also hold a high school diploma or equivalent credential, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Those

still enrolled in high school are excluded from the analysis.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.


49 


�Tables
Table 11.—Status completion rates of 18- through 24-year-olds not currently enrolled in high school or
Table 11.—below, by sex and race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2008
Sex (percent)

Race/ethnicity (percent)1
White, nonBlack, nonHispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic

Year2

Total
(percent)

Male

Female

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

82.8
83.7
83.6
83.8
83.5

83.0
84.0
83.4
84.1
83.0

82.7
83.4
83.8
83.6
84.0

86.0
87.0
86.7
87.2
86.4

72.1
71.6
73.0
70.2
73.5

56.2
58.7
60.1
62.2
60.3

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

83.6
83.6
83.1
83.9
83.8

82.8
82.8
82.1
82.3
82.0

84.4
84.2
84.0
85.3
85.4

86.7
86.9
86.6
87.5
87.1

73.9
73.4
72.6
75.2
76.7

58.6
58.8
58.5
57.1
59.1

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986

83.8
83.9
84.7
85.4
85.5

82.7
82.1
83.3
84.0
84.2

84.9
85.6
85.9
86.7
86.7

87.0
87.4
87.5
88.2
88.8

76.4
76.8
80.3
81.0
81.8

60.9
59.4
63.7
66.6
63.5

1987
1988
1989
1990
1991

84.7
84.5
84.7
85.6
84.9

84.0
83.2
83.2
85.1
83.8

85.8
85.8
86.2
86.0
85.9

87.7
88.7
89.0
89.6
89.4

81.9
80.9
81.9
83.2
82.5

65.1
58.2
59.4
59.1
56.5

1992
1993
1994
1995
1996

86.4
86.2
85.8
85.3
86.2

85.3
85.4
84.5
84.3
85.7

87.4
86.9
87.0
85.7
86.8

90.7
90.1
90.7
89.8
91.5

82.0
81.9
83.3
84.5
83.0

62.1
64.4
61.8
62.8
61.9

1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

85.9
84.8
85.9
86.5
86.5

84.6
82.6
84.8
84.9
84.6

87.2
87.0
87.1
88.1
88.3

90.5
90.2
91.2
91.8
91.0

82.0
81.4
83.5
83.7
85.6

66.7
62.8
63.4
64.1
65.7

2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

86.6
87.1
86.8
87.6
87.8

84.8
85.1
84.9
85.4
86.5

88.4
89.2
88.8
89.8
89.1

91.8
91.9
91.7
92.3
92.6

84.7
85.0
83.4
85.9
84.8

67.3
69.2
69.8
70.2
70.8

See notes at end of table.

50 


�Tables
Table 11.—Status completion rates of 18- through 24-year-olds not currently enrolled in high school or
Table 11.—below, by sex and race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2008—Continued
Sex (percent)
Year2

Total
(percent)

Male

Female

2007
2008

89.0
89.9

87.4
89.3

90.6
90.5

1

Race/ethnicity (percent)1
White, nonBlack, nonHispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic
93.5
94.2

88.8
86.9

72.7
75.5

Beginning in 2003, respondents were able to identify themselves as being “more than one race.” The 2003 through 2008 White,
non-Hispanic and Black, non-Hispanic categories consist of individuals who considered themselves to be one race and who did
not identify themselves as Hispanic. 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 table, American Indians/Alaska Natives and Asians/Pacific Islanders are
included in the totals but not shown separately. The “more than one race” category is also included in the total in 2003 through
2008 but not shown separately due to small sample size.
2
Estimates beginning in 1987 reflect new editing procedures for cases with missing data on school enrollment items. Estimates
beginning in 1992 reflect new wording of the educational attainment item. Estimates beginning in 1994 reflect changes due to
newly instituted computer-assisted interviewing. For details about changes in the Current Population Survey (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.
NOTE: Status completion rates measure the percentage of 18- through 24-year-olds who are not enrolled in high school and who
also hold a high school diploma or equivalent credential, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Those
still enrolled in high school are excluded from the analysis.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.

51 


�Tables
Table 12.—Averaged freshman graduation rate of public high school students, by state: School year 2007–08
Averaged
freshman
graduation
rate
(percent)

Regular
diplomas,
school year
2007–08

74.9

2,964,371

3,958,987

3,841,810

4,247,085

3,788,070

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California

69.0
69.1
70.7
76.4
71.2

41,346
7,855
61,667
28,725
374,561

59,954
11,370
87,280
37,612
526,251

55,630
11,035
92,763
37,390
519,879

64,569
11,934
92,275
38,359
554,174

59,663
11,140
76,801
37,087
504,701

Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida

75.4
82.2
72.1
56.0
66.9

46,082
38,419
7,388
3,352
149,046

61,102
46,766
10,250
5,986
222,755

59,962
45,266
9,279
5,775
212,560

64,446
49,177
11,249
6,700
250,263

58,897
45,854
10,222
5,484
205,443

Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana

65.4
76.0
80.1
80.4
74.1

83,505
11,613
16,567
135,143
61,901

127,610
15,278
20,681
168,121
83,516

120,058
14,292
20,609
165,513
81,090

142,079
16,991
21,344
178,280
87,829

120,694
14,549
20,091
160,570
81,629

Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine3

86.4
79.1
74.4
63.5
79.1

34,573
30,737
39,339
34,401
14,350

40,022
38,863
52,910
54,162
16,672

40,151
38,252
50,700
43,292
15,926

41,196
40,557
57,419
59,182
16,766

38,719
37,781
50,611
60,013
17,323

Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi

80.4
81.5
76.3
86.4
63.9

59,171
65,197
115,183
60,409
24,795

73,556
79,984
150,960
69,904
38,812

70,031
76,688
146,291
71,051
35,868

81,270
84,628
163,124
70,751
41,261

69,368
78,635
143,465
67,909
39,306

Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire

82.4
82.0
83.8
51.3
83.4

61,717
10,396
20,035
17,149
14,982

74,922
12,673
23,906
33,403
17,974

73,142
12,344
23,713
32,665
17,529

78,748
13,238
25,214
36,105
18,644

72,876
12,438
22,792
31,440
17,750

New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota

84.6
66.8
70.8
72.8
83.8

94,994
18,264
176,310
83,307
6,999

112,326
27,355
248,854
114,447
8,351

111,155
26,075
243,322
108,210
8,261

116,702
30,134
273,438
126,414
8,547

109,120
25,857
229,801
108,717
8,245

State
Reporting states2, 3

Estimated
first-time
Grade 10
Grade 9
Grade 8
9th-graders, membership, membership, membership,
school year school year school year school year
2004–051
2005–06
2004–05
2003–04

See notes at end of table.

52

�Tables
Table 12.—Averaged freshman graduation rate of public high school students, by state: School year 2007–08
Table 13.——Continued
Averaged
freshman
graduation
rate
(percent)

Regular
diplomas,
school year
2007–08

Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island

79.0
78.0
76.7
82.7
76.4

120,758
37,630
34,949
130,298
10,347

152,906
48,270
45,549
157,530
13,539

145,999
46,834
44,921
157,058
13,007

165,656
50,404
46,785
164,389
14,591

147,064
47,572
44,941
151,144
13,018

South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah

—
84.4
74.9
73.1
74.3

—
8,582
57,486
252,121
28,167

56,742
10,168
76,789
344,696
37,894

51,277
10,046
74,717
323,524
38,319

65,564
10,377
82,168
386,182
38,069

53,384
10,082
73,481
324,381
37,295

Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

89.3
77.0
71.9
77.3
89.6
76.0

7,392
77,369
61,625
17,489
65,183
5,494

8,275
100,512
85,674
22,623
72,748
7,226

8,152
96,546
84,945
21,415
73,409
7,150

8,552
109,375
89,802
24,199
76,173
7,355

8,121
95,615
82,274
22,256
68,663
7,173

State

Estimated
first-time
Grade 10
Grade 9
Grade 8
9th-graders, membership, membership, membership,
school year school year school year school year
2004–051
2005–06
2004–05
2003–04

— Not available.
1

First-time 9th-graders were estimated as the average of student membership in grades 8, 9, and 10 in 3 consecutive years.

U.S. totals include any of the 50 states and the District of Columbia that reported all data elements.

3
Maine reported 1,161 diplomas that were awarded to students attending private high schools that received a majority of their

funding from public sources. These 1,161 diplomas were included in Maine and the reporting states counts but were not 

included in the averaged freshman graduation rate (AFGR) calculations for the state and for the reporting states totals. 

The diploma counts used to calculate the AFGR for Maine and for the United States were 13,189 and 2,964,125, respectively.

NOTE: The averaged freshman graduation rate (AFGR) is an estimate of the percentage of an entering freshman class

graduating in 4 years. For 2007–08, it equals the total number of diploma recipients in 2007–08 divided by the average

membership of the 8th-grade class in 2003–04, the 9th-grade class in 2004–05, and the 10th-grade class in 2005–06.

Ungraded students were allocated to individual grades proportionally to the reported enrollments by grade. The sum of the

estimated first-time 9th-graders is not equal to the total because the sum of averages is not equal to the average of sums.

SOURCE: Stillwell, R. (2010). Public School Graduates and Dropouts From the Common Core of Data: School Year

2007–08 (NCES 2010-341), table 1.

2

53 


�Tables
Table 13.—Averaged freshman graduation rates of public high school students and change in rates, by state:
Table 13.—School years 2001–02 through 2007–08

State

Change in rates
Averaged freshman graduation rate (percent)
from 2006–07
2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08
to 2007–08

Reporting states1

72.6

73.9

75.0 2

74.7

73.2

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California

62.1
65.9
74.7
74.8
72.7

64.7
68.0
75.9
76.6
74.1

65.0
67.2
66.8
76.8
73.9

65.9
64.1
84.7
75.7
74.6

Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida

74.7
79.7
69.5
68.4
63.4

76.4
80.9
73.0
59.6
66.7

78.7
80.7
72.9
68.2
66.4

Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana

61.1
72.1
79.3
77.1
73.1

60.8
71.3
81.4
75.9
75.5

Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine

84.1
77.1
69.8
64.4
75.6

Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi

3

4

73.9

74.9

66.2
66.5
70.5
80.4
69.2

67.1
69.1
69.6
74.4
70.7

69.0
69.1
70.7
76.4
71.2

1.9
0.0
1.1
2.0
0.5

76.7
80.9
73.1
68.8
64.6

75.5
80.9
76.3
‡
63.6

76.6
81.8
71.9
54.9
65.0

75.4
82.2
72.1
56.0
66.9

-1.2
0.4
0.2
1.1
1.9

61.2
72.6
81.5
80.3
73.5

61.7
75.1
81.0
79.4
73.2

62.4
75.5
80.5
79.7
73.3

64.1
75.4
80.4
79.5
73.9

65.4
76.0
80.1
80.4
74.1

1.3
0.6
-0.3
0.9
0.2

85.3
76.9
71.7
64.1
76.3

85.8
77.9
73.0
69.4
77.6

86.6
79.2
75.9
63.9
78.6

86.9
77.6
77.2
59.5
76.3

86.5
78.9
76.4
61.3
78.5

86.4
79.1
74.4
63.5
79.1

-0.1
0.2
-2.0
2.2
0.6

79.7
77.6
72.9
83.9
61.2

79.2
75.7
74.0
84.8
62.7

79.5
79.3
72.5
84.7
62.7

79.3
78.7
73.0
85.9
63.3

79.9
79.5
72.2
86.2
63.5

80.0
80.8
77.0
86.5
63.6

80.4
81.5
76.3
86.4
63.9

0.4
0.7
-0.7
-0.1
0.3

Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire5

76.8
79.8
83.9
71.9
77.8

78.3
81.0
85.2
72.3
78.2

80.4
80.4
87.6
57.4
78.7

80.6
81.5
87.8
55.8
80.1

81.0
81.9
87.0
55.8
81.1

81.9
81.5
86.3
52.0
81.7

82.4
82.0
83.8
51.3
83.4

0.5
0.5
-2.5
-0.7
1.7

New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota

85.8
67.4
60.5
68.2
85.0

87.0
63.1
60.9
70.1
86.4

86.3
67.0
—
71.4
86.1

85.1
65.4
65.3
72.6
86.3

84.8
67.3
67.4
71.8
82.1

84.4
59.1
68.8
68.6
83.1

84.6
66.8
70.8
72.8
83.8

0.2
7.7
2.0
4.2
0.7

See notes at end of table.

54 


4

1.0

�Tables
Table 13.—Averaged freshman graduation rates of public high school students and change in rates, by state:
Table 13.—School years 2001–02 through 2007–08—Continued

State

Change in rates
Averaged freshman graduation rate (percent)
from 2006–07
2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08
to 2007–08

Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island

77.5
76.0
71.0
80.2
75.7

79.0
76.0
73.7
81.7
77.7

81.3
77.0
74.2
82.2
75.9

80.2
76.9
74.2
82.5
78.4

79.2
77.8
73.0
—
77.8

78.7
77.8
73.8
83.0
78.4

79.0
78.0
76.7
82.7
76.4

0.3
0.2
2.9
-0.3
-2.0

South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah

57.9
79.0
59.6
73.5
80.5

59.7
83.0
63.4
75.5
80.2

60.6
83.7
66.1
76.7
83.0

60.1
82.3
68.5
74.0
84.4

—
84.5
70.6
72.5
78.6

58.9
82.5
72.6
71.9
76.6

—
84.4
74.9
73.1
74.3

—
1.9
2.3
1.2
-2.3

Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

82.0
76.7
72.2
74.2
84.8
74.4

83.6
80.6
74.2
75.7
85.8
73.9

85.4
79.3
74.6
76.9
—
76.0

86.5
79.6
75.0
77.3
86.7
76.7

82.3
74.5
72.9
76.9
87.5
76.1

88.6
75.5
74.8
78.2
88.5
75.8

89.3
77.0
71.9
77.3
89.6
76.0

0.7
1.5
-2.9
-0.9
1.1
0.2

— Not available.
‡ Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

1
Reporting states totals include any of the 50 states and the District of Columbia that reported all data elements.

2
The national estimate of 75.0 percent for 2003–04 does not include data from two states with missing diploma counts:

New York and Wisconsin.

3
The national estimate of 73.2 percent for 2005–06 does not include data from two states, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, 

which did not report data, and the District of Columbia, for which reporting standards were not met. This is an important

consideration when comparing the 2005–06 and 2006–07 national rates. Removing these states and the District of Columbia

from the 2006–07 national counts results in a national rate of 73.7 percent, while prorating the 2006–07 rates to estimate

the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina data results in a 2005–06 rate of 73.4 percent.

4
In 2007–08, Maine reported 1,161 diplomas that were awarded to students attending private high schools that received a

majority of their funding from public sources. These 1,161 diplomas were included in Maine and the reporting states counts but 

were not included in the averaged freshman graduation rate (AFGR) calculations for the state and for the reporting states totals.

The diploma counts used to calculate the AFGR for Maine and for the reporting states were 13,189 and 2,964,125, respectively.

5
New Hampshire included homeschooled students in reported membership in 2000–01. This could inflate the denominator

for the AFGR in 2002–03, 2003–04, and 2004–05 slightly.

NOTE: The averaged freshman graduation rate (AFGR) is an estimate of the percentage of an entering freshman class

graduating in 4 years. For 2007–08, it equals the total number of diploma recipients in 2007–08 divided by the average 

membership of the 8th-grade class in 2003–04, the 9th-grade class in 2004–05, and the 10th-grade class in 2005–06.

Ungraded students were allocated to individual grades proportionally to the reported enrollments by grade.

SOURCE: Seastrom, M., Hoffman, L., Chapman, C., and Stillwell, R. (2005). The Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate for 

Public High Schools From the Common Core of Data: School Years 2001–02 and 2002–03 (NCES 2006-601), table 1; 

Seastrom, M., Hoffman, L., Chapman, C., and Stillwell, R. (2007). The Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate for Public High 

Schools From the Common Core of Data: School Years 2002–03 and 2003–04 (NCES 2006-606rev), table 1; Sable, J., and

Garofano, A. (2007). Public Elementary and Secondary School Student Enrollment, High School Completions, and Staff

From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2005–06 (NCES 2007-352), table 4; Stillwell, R. and Hoffman, L. (2009). 

Public School Graduates and Dropouts From the Common Core of Data : School Year 2005–06 (NCES 2008-353rev), table 1;

Stillwell, R. (2009). Public School Graduates and Dropouts From the Common Core of Data : School Year 2006–07 

(NCES 2010-313), table 1. Stillwell, R. (2010). Public School Graduates and Dropouts From the Common Core of Data:

School Year 2007–08 (NCES 2010-341), table 1.


55 


��Appendix A—Technical Notes 

Common Core of Data
The Common Core of Data (CCD), administered by the National Center for Education
Statistics (NCES), is an annual survey of the state-level education agencies in the 50 states, the
District of Columbia, and 7 other jurisdictions.1 Through the CCD, statistical information is
collected on all public school districts and their schools, staff, students, and finances.
Information is not collected on private schools and their students, homeschoolers, individuals
who never attended school in the United States, or those who have been out of a public school
system for more than a year. Data from the CCD are used to calculate event dropout rates and
averaged freshman graduation rates (AFGR) for public high school students.
The dropout data collection was initiated with a set of instructions to state CCD
coordinators in the summer of 1991. Those instructions specified the details of dropout data to be
collected during the 1991–92 school year. Dropouts are reported for the preceding school year.
Thus, the 1991–92 data were submitted to NCES as a component of the 1992–93 CCD data
collection. Most recently, the 2007–08 dropout data were submitted as a component of the
2008–09 CCD data collection. Dropout counts from Vermont were suppressed due to a high
frequency of missing data. Rates are presented for the District of Columbia and 49 states that
submitted data that could be reported for the 2007–08 school year; a “reporting states” rate was
calculated based on data from the reporting states (table 5).
Data needed to estimate the AFGR, specifically data on diploma awards and enrollment by
grade, have traditionally been part of the CCD data collection. Like dropout data, diploma
recipient reports are lagged a year (e.g., 2006–07 diploma counts are in the 2007–08 data files).

Defining and Calculating Event Dropout Rates Using the CCD
The definition of “event dropout rates” that was agreed upon by NCES and the states was
the following:
1

Dropout and averaged freshman graduation rate (AFGR) data presented in this report are based on the following CCD data
files: “Local Education Agency Universe Survey Dropout and Completion Data File: School Years 1991–92 through 1996–97”
(Version 1a); and “Local Education Agency Universe Survey Dropout and Completion Data File,” School Years 1997–98, 1998–
99, 1999–2000, 2000–01 (Versions 1b), and 2001–02 (Version 0d); and “State Nonfiscal Data File,” School Years, 1997–98
(Version 1b), 1998–99 (Version 1c), 1999–2000 (Version 1c), 2000–01 (Version 1b), 2001–02 (Version 1b), 2002–03 (Version
1b), 2003–04 (Version 0c), 2004–05 (Version 0c), 2005–06 (Version 1a), 2006–07 (Version 1a), and 2007–08 (Version 1a). The
seven other jurisdictions include Department of Defense dependents schools (domestic and overseas); Bureau of Indian
Education; Puerto Rico; American Samoa; Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; Guam; and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A-1 


�Appendix A—Technical Notes

The denominator of the rate is the current October 1st membership count for the state for
the grades for which the dropout rate is being calculated. For example, the dropout rate for
grades 9–12 would use a denominator that equals the October 1st enrollment count for grades
9–12.2
The numerator (dropouts) is all individuals who
•	 were enrolled in school at some time during the previous school year;
•	 were not enrolled at the beginning of the current school year;
•	 have not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved education
program; and
•	 do not meet any of the following exclusionary conditions: transferred to another public
school district, private school, or state- or district-approved education program; temporary
absence due to suspension or school-approved education program; or death.
For the purpose of this definition, the following statements apply:
•	 The school year is the 12-month period of time from the first day of school (operationally set
as October 1), with dropouts from the previous summer reported for the year and grade in
which they fail to enroll. Some states report using an alternative 12-month period from one
July to the next, but the different periodicity does not affect the comparability of the
estimates (Winglee et al. 2000);
•	 Individuals who are not accounted for on October 1 are considered dropouts; and
•	 A high school completer is an individual who has graduated from high school or completed a
state- or district-approved education program upon receipt of formal recognition from school
authorities. A state- or district-approved education program may consist of special education
and district- or state-sponsored General Educational Development (GED) preparation.

2

Ungraded students are prorated across grades in the denominator proportional to known graded enrollment rates, and ungraded
dropouts are included in the numerator.

A-2 


�Appendix A—Technical Notes

Defining the Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate for Public School Students Using
the CCD
Data from the CCD state nonfiscal files are used to calculate AFGRs in this report. In the
AFGR, graduates include only diploma recipients. Other high school completers, such as those
who earn a certificate of attendance, and those awarded high school equivalency credentials such
as GEDs, are not considered graduates. The purpose of these exclusions is to make the AFGR as
similar as possible conceptually to Adequate Yearly Progress provisions in the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 2001 (P.L. 107-110). These provisions require
measurement of on-time graduation from public high schools and explicitly exclude GEDs and
other types of nonregular diplomas. Another reason for the exclusion of equivalency credentials
in the AFGR is that not all states report giving equivalency credentials, so comparable estimates
across states would not be possible.
Diploma Recipients. These are individuals who are awarded, in a given year, a high school
diploma or a diploma that recognizes some higher level of academic achievement. They can be
thought of as students who meet or exceed the coursework and performance standards for high
school completion established by the state or other relevant authorities. State and local policies
and data collection administration can have profound effects on the numbers of diploma
recipients reported by a state. There are differences in what a high school diploma represents in
different states. Some states award regular diplomas to all students who meet completion
requirements, regardless of the extent to which these requirements address state or district
academic standards. Other states award some form of alternative credential to students who meet
some, but not all, requirements.
Exclusion of Other High School Completers. Other high school completers were excluded
from the calculation of the AFGR. These individuals receive a certificate of attendance or some
other credential in lieu of a diploma. One example of such a credential is a certificate of
attendance for special education students who do not follow a regular academic curriculum.
Students awarded this credential typically meet requirements that differ from those for a high
school diploma. Some states do not issue an “other high school completion” type of certificate,
but award all students who complete school a diploma regardless of what academic requirements
the students have met.
Exclusion of High School Equivalency Recipients. High school equivalency recipients are
awarded a credential certifying that they have met state or district requirements for high school
completion by passing an examination or completing some other performance requirement. High
school equivalency credentials, such as those earned by passing the GED test, are generally

A-3 


�Appendix A—Technical Notes

considered valid completion credentials, but recipients of such credentials are excluded from the
AFGR because the ESEA calls for only regular diploma recipients to be counted (table A-1).
Incorporation of equivalency credentials into high school outcome measures would be further
complicated by variation in how different states treat GED programs and recipients. Some states
incorporate GED programs into their high school education systems and continue to follow the
progress of individuals in these programs as part of their overall high school student population.
These states count at least some GED recipients as equivalency credential holders in their high
school data systems. Some states incorporate GED programs into adult social service programs
or other programs outside of secondary education and do not track GED program participants or
GED recipients as part of their high school student population.
Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate. The AFGR provides an estimate of the percentage
of high school students who graduate on time. The rate uses aggregate student enrollment data to
estimate the size of an incoming freshman class and aggregate counts of the number of regular
diplomas awarded 4 years later. The incoming freshman class size is estimated by summing the
enrollment in 8th grade for one year, 9th grade for the next year, and 10th grade for the year after
and then dividing by 3. The averaging is intended to account for higher grade retentions in the
9th grade in order to estimate how many of them were first-time 9th-graders. Although not as
accurate as an on-time graduation rate computed from a cohort of students using student record
data, this estimate of an on-time graduation rate can be computed with currently available data.
The AFGR was selected from a number of alternative estimates that can be calculated using
cross-sectional data based on a technical review and analysis of a set of alternative estimates
(Seastrom et al. 2006a, 2006b). The rate for the class of 2007–08 was calculated in the following
manner:

High School Diplomas Awarded at End of 2007–08 School Year
Enrollment in (Grade 8 in fall 2003 + Grade 9 in fall 2004 + Grade 10 in fall 2005)/3

Although enrollments are reported by grade, some states report ungraded students3 in
addition to graded students. To adjust for this, an allocation procedure used in the CCD “Local
Education Agency Universe Survey Dropout and Completion Data File” was applied. Through
this process, the data for ungraded enrollment counts were redistributed across grades in
proportion to the graded enrollment of the state, and the resulting estimates for grades 8, 9, and
10 were added to the reported enrollment counts for those grades. The AFGR for public school
students in the United States for 2007–08 is based on data from 4 years. The numerator is the
3

Ungraded students are those who are assigned to a class or program that does not have standard grade designations.

A-4 


�Appendix A—Technical Notes

2,965,286 diploma recipients reported for school year 2007–08. The denominator is the average
of the estimated 3,788,070 students in 8th grade in October 2003, the estimated 4,247,085
students in 9th grade in October 2004, and the estimated 3,841,810 students in 10th grade in
October 2005. The 2,965,286 public school diploma recipients divided by the 3,958,987
averaged number of public school freshmen, multiplied by 100, results in a 2007–08 public
school graduation rate for the United States of 74.9 percent. The same formula is applied to
compute the 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, and 2006–07 AFGRs for public
school students in the country and in each state.
Note that the AFGR is not the same as a true cohort graduation rate that shows the
percentage of actual first-time 9th-grade students who graduated within 4 years of starting 9th
grade. A true cohort rate requires data that track a given set of students over time. The CCD data
used for the AFGR are collected using repeating cross-sectional surveys. Individual students are
not followed from year to year. Although the AFGR was selected as the best of the available
alternatives, there are several factors that make it fall short of a true on-time graduation rate.
First, the averaged freshman class is, at best, an approximation of the actual number of first-time
freshmen. To the extent that the averaging differs from actual net transfers into and out of a
class, and to the extent that it does not accurately capture grade retention and dropout rates
across all 4 years of a given freshman class’s expected high school stay, the estimate will be less
accurate. Second, by including all graduates in a specific year, the graduates may include
students who repeated a grade in high school or completed high school early and, thus, are not
on-time graduates in that year.
Taking these factors one at a time, it is possible that more high school students will move
out of a given jurisdiction than move into it during the 4 years between the beginning of 9th
grade and the expected graduation date. The averaged freshman count would overestimate the
size of the actual cohort and thus underestimate the graduation rate. On the other hand, if more
high school students moved into a jurisdiction than moved out during this 4-year period, the
averaged freshman count would underestimate the size of the cohort and thus overestimate the
graduation rate. Similarly, the use of 8th-, 9th-, and 10th-grade enrollment counts to estimate a
first-time freshman class may not work as intended in many situations. Using 8th- and 9th-grade
enrollment counts can be inaccurate to the extent that they do not adequately account for grade
retention at 9th grade. Retention rates at 9th grade tend to be relatively large. While adding 8thgrade enrollments to the average may help diminish this problem, it is likely that in many cases it
will not wholly adjust for actual 9th-grade retention rates, thus overestimating the first-time
freshman count and underestimating the graduation rate. Using 9th- and 10th-grade enrollment
numbers can be inaccurate to the extent that the 10th-grade counts exclude 9th-graders who

A-5 


�Appendix A—Technical Notes
Table A-1.—Summary table of high school dropout, completion, and graduation rates
Current
statistic
(year)

Age
group/
Grades

Event dropout rate

3.5 percent
(2008)

15–24

Percentage of
Indicator of the
high school
annual rate at
students who
which U.S. high
have dropped
school students
out of grades are leaving school
10–12 in the
with an unsucpast year
cessful outcome

Students
who get an
equivalency
certificate
do not count
as dropouts.

Event dropout rate
(public school
students)

4.1 percent
(2007–08)

Grades
9–12

Percentage of
State-level
public high
indicator of the
school students
annual rate at
who have which public high
dropped out of
school students
grades 9–12 in are leaving school
a given year
with an unsuccessful outcome

Students who
get a staterecognized
equivalency
certificate
do not count
as dropouts.

Status dropout rate

8.0 percent
(2008)

16–24

Percentage of
people who are
not enrolled in
high school and
who do not have
a high school
credential

Indicator of the
percentage of
young people
who lack a basic
high school
education

Students who
have earned
an equivalency
credential
do not count
as dropouts.

89.9 percent
(2008)

18–24

Percentage of
young adults
who have left
high school and
who hold a high
school credential

Indicator of the
percentage of
young adults
who have a
basic high school
education

People who have
earned an
equivalency
credential count
as completers.

Rate

Status completion rate

Description

See notes at end of table.

A-6 


Purpose

Equivalency
certificate
status

�Appendix A—Technical Notes
Table A-1.—Summary table of high school dropout, completion, and graduation rates—Continued

Rate
Averaged freshman
graduation rate
(public school
students)

Current
statistic
(year)

Age
group/
Grades

74.9 percent
(2007–08)

Grades
9–12

Description

Purpose

Percentage of
public high
school students
who graduate
with a regular
diploma 4 years
after starting
9th grade

Indicator of
on-time graduation from
public schools

Equivalency
certificate
status
High school
equivalency
credentials are
not counted as
“graduation.”

SOURCE: Stillwell, R. (2010). Public School Graduates and Dropouts From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2007–08
(NCES 2010-341), tables 1 and 7. U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey
.
(CPS), October
2008.

dropped out from the previous year (effectively underestimating the cohort) or include students
retained in 10th grade (effectively overestimating the cohort).
The inclusion of graduates who spent more or less than 4 years in high school increases the
number of graduates in the numerator and yields a higher estimated rate than would be the case if
only on-time graduates were included in the numerator. On the other hand, not recording early
graduates with their actual cohort decreases the graduation rate for their original 9th-grade
classes.

Data Considerations for the CCD
As a universe data collection, the CCD does not have sampling errors (the difference
between an estimate based on a sample and the estimate based on an entire population).
However, there are potential sources for nonsampling errors in universe data collections,
including inability to get information about all cases (i.e., nonresponse), definitional difficulties,
respondent inability to provide correct information, and errors made in recording, coding, and
processing data. For more information about the CCD, go to http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/.

Current Population Survey
The Current Population Survey (CPS) provides nationally representative data for the
civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States. The survey is conducted in a
sample of 50,000–60,000 households each month. Households are interviewed for four successive

A-7 


�Appendix A—Technical Notes

monthly interviews, are not interviewed for the next 8 months, and then are reinterviewed for the
following 4 months. Typically, the first and the fifth interviews are conducted in person, with the
remaining conducted via computer-assisted telephone interviewing. The sample frame is a
complete list of dwelling-unit addresses at the time of the decennial Census updated by
demolitions and new construction listings. The population surveyed excludes members of the
armed forces, inmates of correctional institutions, and patients in long-term medical or custodial
facilities; it is referred to as the civilian, noninstitutionalized population. The household-level
nonresponse rate was 8.3 percent in the 2007 October basic CPS and the person-level
nonresponse rate for the school enrollment supplement was an additional 5.3 percent. These rates
cannot be combined to derive an overall person-level response rate. For more information, please
see Current Population Survey, October 2008: School Enrollment and Internet Use Supplement
File (Technical Documentation CPS-08) (U.S. Department of Commerce 2009). An adult
member of each household serves as the informant for that household, supplying basic monthly
data for each member of the household. In addition, in October of each year, supplementary
questions regarding school enrollment are asked about eligible household members ages 3 and
older. Data are collected about individuals who attend or attended public schools and private
schools, who were homeschooled, or who never attended school in the United States.
CPS data on educational attainment and enrollment status in the current year and prior year
are used to identify dropouts and completers, and additional items in the CPS data are used to
describe some of their basic characteristics. The CPS is the only source of national time series
data on dropout and completion rates. However, because the CPS collects no information on
school characteristics and experiences, its usefulness in addressing dropout and completion
issues is primarily for providing insights on who drops out and who completes. Sample sizes in
the CPS collections do not support stable state-level estimates.
There are important differences in data collection procedures between the CPS and the
CCD. First, the CCD collection includes only data for public schools, whereas the CPS counts
include students who were enrolled in either public or private schools and some individuals who
were never enrolled in school in the United States. Second, the CCD collects data about students
from a given state’s public school system. CPS data are based on where individuals currently
reside, so the state of residence may differ from the state or country of earlier school attendance.
Third, the CCD collection includes dropouts in grades 7–12, versus grades 10–12 in the CPS
(although the CCD event rates are reported for grades 9–12 in this report). Fourth, the CCD
collection is based on administrative records rather than individual self-reports based on
household surveys as in the CPS. Finally, data in the CCD are collected from the full universe of
public schools, whereas data in the CPS are collected from a sample of households, not the full
universe of households. As a result, CPS data have sampling errors associated with estimates

A-8 


�Appendix A—Technical Notes

whereas CCD data do not. For more information on CPS sampling errors and how to interpret
them, see the section “Statistical Procedures for Analyzing CPS-Based Estimates” later in
appendix A.

Defining and Calculating Dropout and Completion Rates Using the CPS
Event Dropout Rates
The October Supplement to the CPS is the only national data source that currently can be
used to estimate annual national dropout rates. As a measure of recent dropout experiences, the
event dropout rate measures the proportion of students who dropped out over a 1-year interval.
The numerator of the event dropout rate for 2008 is the number of persons ages 15–244
surveyed in October 2008 who were enrolled in grades 10–12 in October 2007, who were not
enrolled in high school in October 2008, and who also did not complete high school (that is, had
not received a high school diploma or an alternative credential such as an equivalency certificate)
between October 2007 and October 2008.
The denominator of the event dropout rate for 2008 is the sum of the dropouts (that is, the
numerator) and all persons ages 15–24 who were attending grades 10–12 in October 2007, who
were still enrolled in October 2008, or who graduated or completed high school between October
2007 and October 2008.
The dropout interval is defined to include the previous summer (in this case, the summer of
2008) and the previous school year (in this case, the 2007 school year), so that once a grade is
completed, the student is then at risk of dropping out of the next grade. Given that the data
collection is tied to each person’s enrollment status in October of 2 consecutive years, any
student who drops out and returns within the 12-month period is not counted as a dropout.

Status Dropout Rates
The status dropout rate reflects the percentage of individuals who are dropouts, regardless
of when they dropped out. The numerator of the status dropout rate for 2008 is the number of
individuals ages 16–245 who, as of October 2008, had not completed high school and were not
currently enrolled. The denominator is the total number of 16- through 24-year-olds in October
2008.
4

This age range was chosen in an effort to include as many students in grades 10–12 as possible. Because the rate is based on
retrospective data, it is lagged 1 year, meaning that some 15-year-olds have turned age 16 by the time of the interview.
5

Age 16 was chosen as the lower age limit because, in some states, compulsory education is not required after age 16. Age 24
was chosen as the upper limit because it is the age at which free secondary education is no longer available and the age at which
the average person who is going to obtain a GED does so.

A-9 


�Appendix A—Technical Notes

Status Completion Rates
The numerator of the high school status completion rate is the number of 18- through 24year-olds6 who had received a high school diploma or an alternative credential such as a GED.
The denominator is the number of 18- through 24-year-olds who are no longer in elementary or
secondary school.
GED Credentials and the Status Completion Rate. Prior to 2000, editions of this series of
high school completion and dropout reports presented estimates of overall status completion
rates and estimates of the method of completion—graduation by diploma or completion through
an alternative credential such as the GED—based on data obtained through CPS reporting.
Because of changes in CPS introduced in 2000, data on the method of completion were not
comparable with prior year CPS estimates and the method of completion data were no longer
reported. Please see the discussion of the GED Testing Service data below for further
information.

Data Considerations for the CPS
Over the last several decades, data collection procedures, items, and data preparation
processes have changed in the CPS. Some of these changes were introduced to ensure that CPS
estimates were comparable to those from decennial Census collections, some were introduced to
reflect changes in the concepts under study, some were introduced to improve upon measures,
and some were introduced to develop measures for new phenomena. The effects of the various
changes have been studied to help ensure they do not disrupt trend data from the CPS. For a
summary of the changes and studies of their effects, please see appendix C of Dropout Rates in
the United States: 2001 (Kaufman, Alt, and Chapman 2004).
CPS data include weights to help make estimates from the data representative of the
civilian, noninstitutionalized population in the United States. These weights are based on
decennial Census data that are adjusted for births, deaths, immigration, emigration, etc., over
time.
Imputation for Item Nonresponse in the CPS. For many key items in the October CPS, the
U.S. Census Bureau imputes data for cases with missing data due to item nonresponse. However,
the U.S. Census Bureau did not impute data regarding the method of high school completion
before 1997. Special imputations were conducted for these items using a sequential hot deck
procedure implemented through the PROC IMPUTE computer program developed by the
6

Age 18 was chosen as the lower age limit because most diploma holders earn their diploma by this age. Age 24 was chosen as
the upper limit because it is the age at which free secondary education is no longer available and the age at which the average
person who is going to obtain a GED does so.

A-10 


�Appendix A—Technical Notes

American Institutes for Research. Three categories of age, two categories of race, two categories
of sex, and two categories of citizenship were used as imputation cells.
Age and Grade Ranges in CPS Estimates. The age and grade ranges used in the CPS
measures of dropout rates are constrained by available data. Ideally, the estimates would be able
to capture reliable estimates of children in grades as low as grade 9. However, the CPS asks the
question about enrollment in the previous October only about individuals ages 15 and older.
Many 9th-graders are younger than age 15, so 10th grade was selected as the lower boundary of
grade ranges in the event dropout rate.
Accuracy of CPS Estimates. CPS estimates in this report are derived from samples and are
subject to two broad classes of error—sampling and nonsampling error. Sampling errors occur
because the data are collected from a sample of a population rather than from the entire
population. Estimates based on a sample will differ to some degree (dependent largely on sample
size and coverage) from the values that would have been obtained from a universe survey using
the same instruments, instructions, and procedures. Nonsampling errors come from a variety of
sources and affect all types of surveys—universe as well as sample surveys. Examples of sources
of nonsampling error include design, reporting, and processing errors and errors due to
nonresponse. The effects of nonsampling errors are more difficult to evaluate than those that
result from sampling variability. As much as possible, procedures are built into surveys in order
to minimize nonsampling errors.
The standard error is a measure of the variability due to sampling when estimating a
parameter. It indicates how much variance there is in the population of possible estimates of a
parameter for a given sample size. Standard errors can be used as a measure of the precision
expected from a particular sample. The probability that a sample statistic would differ from a
population parameter by less than the standard error is about 68 percent. The chances that the
difference would be less than 1.65 times the standard error are about 90 out of 100, and the
chances that the difference would be less than 1.96 times the standard error are about 95 out of 100.
Standard errors for percentages and numbers of persons based on CPS data were calculated
using the following formulas:

A-11 


�Appendix A—Technical Notes

Percentage:
se =
where p
N
b

(b / N )( p )(100 − p )

= the percentage (0 &lt; p &lt; 100),
= the population on which the percentage is based, and
= the regression parameter, which is based on a generalized variance formula
and is associated with the characteristic.
For 2008, b is equal to 2,131 for the total or White population, 2,410 for the
Black population, 2,744 for the Hispanic population, and 2,410 for the
Asian/Pacific Islander population ages 14–24. The b for regional estimates
are 1.06 for the Northeast, 1.06 for the Midwest, 1.07 for the South, and 1.02
for the West.

CPS documentation explains the purpose and process for the generalized variance parameter:
Experience has shown that certain groups of estimates have similar relations between
their variances and expected values. Modeling or generalizing may provide more
stable variance estimates by taking advantage of these similarities. The generalized
variance function is a simple model that expresses the variance as a function of the
expected value of a survey estimate. The parameters of the generalized variance
function are estimated using direct replicate variances (Cahoon 2005, p. 7).
Number of persons:
se = (bx )(1 − ( x / T ))
where x
T
b

= the number of persons (i.e., dropouts), 

= population in the category (e.g., Blacks ages 16–24), and 

= as above. 


Statistical Procedures for Analyzing CPS-Based Estimates
Because CPS data are collected from samples of the population, statistical tests are
employed to measure differences between estimates to help ensure they are taking into account
possible sampling error. 7 The descriptive comparisons in this report were tested using Student’s
t statistic. Differences between estimates are tested against the probability of a type I error,8 or
significance level. The significance levels were determined by calculating the Student’s t values
for the differences between each pair of means or proportions and comparing these with
published tables of significance levels for two-tailed hypothesis testing.

7
The CCD and GEDTS data are universe data collections and therefore do not require statistical testing such as that used for
estimates from the CPS sample survey data.
8

A Type I error occurs when one concludes that a difference observed in a sample reflects a true difference in the population
from which the sample was drawn, when no such difference is present. It is sometimes referred to as a “false positive.”

A-12 


�Appendix A—Technical Notes

Student’s t values may be computed to test the difference between percentages with the
following formula:

t=

P1 − P2
se12 + se22

where P1 and P2 are the estimates to be compared and se1 and se2 are their corresponding
standard errors.
Several points should be considered when interpreting t statistics. First, comparisons based
on large t statistics may appear to merit special attention. This can be misleading since the
magnitude of the t statistic is related not only to the observed differences in means or proportions
but also to the number of respondents in the specific categories used for comparison. Hence, a
small difference compared across a large number of respondents would produce a large t statistic.
Second, there is a possibility that one can report a “false positive” or type I error. In the
case of a t statistic, this false positive would result when a difference measured with a particular
sample showed a statistically significant difference when there was no difference in the
underlying population. Statistical tests are designed to control this type of error. These tests are
set to different levels of tolerance or risk known as alphas. The alpha level of .05 selected for
findings in this report indicates that a difference of a certain magnitude or larger would be
produced no more than 1 time out of 20 when there was no actual difference in the quantities in
the underlying population. When p values are smaller than the .05 level, the null hypothesis that
there is no difference between the two quantities is rejected. Finding no difference, however,
does not necessarily imply that the values are the same or equivalent.
Third, the probability of a type I error increases with the number of comparisons being
made. Bonferroni adjustments are sometimes used to correct for this problem. Bonferroni
adjustments do this by reducing the alpha level for each individual test in proportion to the
number of tests being done. However, while Bonferroni adjustments help avoid type I errors,
they increase the chance of making type II errors. Type II errors occur when there actually is a
difference present in a population, but a statistical test applied to estimates from a sample
indicates that no difference exists. Prior to the 2001 report in this series, Bonferroni adjustments
were employed. Because of changes in NCES reporting standards, Bonferroni adjustments are
not employed in this report.
Regression analysis was used to test for trends across age groups and over time. Regression
analysis assesses the degree to which one variable (the dependent variable) is related to one or
more other variables (the independent variables). The estimation procedure most commonly used
in regression analysis is ordinary least squares (OLS). When studying changes in rates over time,

A-13 


�Appendix A—Technical Notes

the rates were used as dependent measures in the regressions, with a variable representing time
and a dummy variable controlling for changes in the educational attainment item in 1992 (= 0 for
years 1972 to 1991, = 1 after 1992) used as independent variables. When slope coefficients were
positive and significant, rates increased over time. When slope coefficients were negative and
significant, rates decreased over time. Because of varying sample sizes over time, some of the
observations were less reliable than others (i.e., some years’ standard errors were larger than
those for other years). In such cases, OLS estimation procedures do not apply, and it is necessary
to modify the regression procedures to obtain unbiased regression parameters. This is
accomplished by using weighted least squares regressions.9 Each variable in the analysis was
transformed by dividing by the standard error of the relevant year’s rate. The new dependent
variable was then regressed on the new time variable, a variable for 1 divided by the standard
error for the year’s rate, and the new editing-change dummy variable. All statements about trend
changes in this report are statistically significant at the .05 level.

GED Testing Service
The GED Testing Service (GEDTS) collects data on individuals who take the GED exam
each year and on individuals who pass the exam each year. These data are collected from test
sites both in the United States and internationally. The GEDTS releases the data in aggregate
form in annual statistical reports. The reports are organized to allow readers to differentiate
between those individuals taking and passing the exam in the United States and those taking and
passing the exam outside of the United States. Though GEDTS designs and administers the
exam, states and sometimes jurisdictions within a state determine who can take the exam, how
much pre-exam preparation is required, what scores are needed to pass the exam, how and when
exam can be retaken, how much the exam cost, and the official name of the resulting credential
(see http://www2.acenet.edu/gedtest/policy/index.cfm?return=1 for details).
Prior to 2000, NCES completion and dropout reports presented estimates of those holding
alternative credentials such as GEDs directly from CPS data as part of the status completion rate.
Examination of the changes in the CPS alternative credential items in the October 2000 and
subsequent surveys has indicated that these estimates may not be reliable estimates of high
school equivalency completions.10 Therefore, CPS estimates of the method of high school
equivalency completion were not presented in several NCES reports. Because GED recipients do

9

For a general discussion of weighted least squares analysis, please see Gujarati, D., Basic Econometrics 2nd ed. McGraw Hill,
Inc., New York: New York, 1998.
10

For a comparison of estimates from the CPS and the GED Testing Service of the number of 18- through 24-year-olds who have
received a GED, see table A-1 in Laird, J., DeBell, M., Kienzl, G., and Chapman, C. (2007). Dropout Rates in the United States:
2005 (NCES 2007-059). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education.
Washington, DC.

A-14 


�Appendix A—Technical Notes

have notably different life experiences than those with no high school credential and those with a
regular high school diploma, the loss of information about alternative credential holders was an
important measurement problem. In response, NCES developed an approach for using GEDTS to
estimate how many young people in the civilian, noninstitutionalized population in a given age
range had earned a GED by passing the GED exam. It is important to acknowledge here that
Mishel and Roy (2006) simultaneously and independently developed a similar approach for
research that they were conducting.
Table A-2 provides a summary of the data released by GEDTS on the number of people
passing the exam each year and the age distribution of those passing the exam (American
Council on Education, GED Testing Service 1991–2002, 2003–06, 2007, 2008, 2009). For the
U.S. population, GEDTS indicates that approximately 250,000 persons ages 18–24 passed the
GED in 2008. The GED status rate indicates the percentage of individuals in a given age range
who passed the GED exam irrespective of when they passed the exam.28 In order to derive the
GED status rate, data from several GEDTS reports were combined. For 18- through 24-yearolds, this was done by adding the count of 18- through 24-year-olds who passed the exam in
2008 to counts of people who were ages 18–24 in 2008, but who passed the exam in earlier
years. The number of 18- through 24-year-olds who passed the exam in 2008 was added to the
number of 17- through 23-year-olds who passed the exam in 2007. That sum was added to the
number of 16- through 22-year-olds who passed the exam in 2006, the number of 16- through
21-year-olds who passed the exam in 2005, the number of 16- through 20-year-olds who passed
the exam in 2004, the number of 16- through 19-year-olds who passed the exam in 2003, the
number of 16- through 18-year-olds who passed the exam in 2002, the number of 16- and 17year-olds who passed the exam in 2001, and the number of 16-year-olds who passed the exam in
2000. Sixteen year-olds in 2000 would have been 24 in 2008. Based on this approach,
approximately 1,622,000 persons ages 18 through 24 held a GED in 2008.
Because the CPS-based status rates developed for this report focus on individuals in the
civilian, noninstitutionalized population, adjustments were made to the GED count estimates.
GED count data are reported by year the GED was earned, whereas the status rates reflect the
experience of individuals over multiple year periods. As such, individuals might have been part
of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population when they earned a GED, and subsequently joined
the military or the prison populations. Alternatively, individuals might have been in the military
or prison when they earned a GED and subsequently reentered the civilian, noninstitutionalized
population. To account for both possibilities, data for current active-duty military personnel for
2008 were obtained from the Defense Manpower Data Center and from the Survey of Inmates in
28

The GED Testing Service reports 20- through 24-year-olds as one age group. Single year of age data for those in the 20–24year-old group was estimated by dividing the group count by 5 in a given year.

A-15 


�Appendix A—Technical Notes

State and Federal Correctional Facilities, 2004 (op. cited). More recent prison data including
inmate educational attainment were not available. Rates derived from the 2004 prison data were
applied to 2008 prison data that contained prison inmate age distributions (table A-3). Prison
data for 2008 were drawn from the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ National Prisoner Statistics 2008
(1b). After these adjustments, the estimated number of 18- through 24-year-old individuals in the
civilian, noninstitutionalized population holding a GED in 2008 was approximately 1,500,000.
A similar approach was used to estimate the number of 16-24-year-olds in the civilian,
noninstitutionalized population holding a GED in 2008.
Table A-2.	—Percentage distribution of persons who passed the General Educational Development (GED)

Table A-2.—exam outside of federal and state contract facilities, by age group: 1998–2008


Year1

Number
passed

16

17

18

Age group
19

20–24

25 or older

1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008

480,947
498,015
486,997
648,022
329,515
387,470
405,724
423,714
398,045
428,840
467,994

2.8
3.3
3.2
2.9
4.4
3.9
4.0
3.9
4.1
4.0
3.6

11.8
12.9
13.0
11.5
15.8
14.6
14.0
13.7
14.4
14.3
13.5

19.1
16.1
16.5
14.7
17.4
16.8
16.8
16.1
16.7
17.0
16.9

12.2
12.3
12.2
11.5
11.6
11.4
11.4
10.9
10.9
10.9
11.1

24.1
24.3
24.9
26.4
24.6
25.9
26.2
25.6
24.9
24.1
24.0

30.0
31.1
30.2
33.0
26.2
27.4
27.6
29.8
29.0
29.7
30.9

1

Prior to 2002, those passing GED exams in federal or state contract facilities were issued GEDs in their state of residence.

Contract facilities include military installations and prisons.

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.


A-16 


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

Year1

Number
passed

16

17

18

Age group
19

20–24

25 or older

1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008

†
†
†
†
4,414
6,332
8,644
10,591
10,143
11,741
14,727

†
†
†
†
0.0
0.3
0.4
0.3
0.4
0.3
1.0

†
†
†
†
0.4
1.0
1.0
3.1
3.5
3.0
5.8

†
†
†
†
1.6
1.7
2.0
4.0
5.5
7.5
10.9

†
†
†
†
3.8
2.7
2.9
4.1
6.1
7.1
9.1

†
†
†
†
26.8
27.9
25.4
23.9
23.8
25.0
23.5

†
†
†
†
67.4
66.4
68.3
64.6
60.7
57.1
49.7

† Not applicable.

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.


A-17 


��Appendix B—Glossary 

For dropout and completion rate estimates, please see the discussions above and table A-1.
Age. Age of the subject at the time of the interview.
Family income. In the Current Population Survey (CPS), family income is derived from a
single question asked of the household respondent. Income includes money income
from all sources including jobs, business, interest, rent, and social security payments.
The income of nonrelatives living in the household is excluded, but the income of all
family members 14 years old and older, including those temporarily living away, is
included. Family income refers to receipts over a 12-month period.
There are several issues that affect the interpretation of dropout rates by family income
using the CPS. First, it is possible that the family income of the students at the time
they dropped out was somewhat different from their family income at the time of the
CPS interview. Furthermore, family income is derived from a single question asked of
the household respondent in the October CPS. In some cases, there are persons ages
15–24 living in the household who are unrelated to the household respondent, yet
whose family income is defined as the income of the family of the household
respondent. Therefore, the current family income of the respondent may not accurately
reflect that person’s family background. In particular, some of the young adults in the
15- through 24-year age range do not live in a family unit with a parent present.
GED, or General Educational Development. General Educational Development (GED)
tests are standardized tests designed to measure the skills and knowledge that students
normally acquire by the end of high school. The tests are developed by the American
Council on Education’s GED Testing Service. People who pass may receive a high
school equivalency credential.
Geographic regions. There are four Census regions used in this report: Northeast,
Midwest, South, and West. The Northeast consists of Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania. The Midwest consists of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin,
Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. The
South consists of Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, West
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee,

B-1 


�Appendix B—Glossary

Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. The West consists
of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada,
Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Recency of immigration. Recency of immigration was derived from a set of questions on
the CPS survey inquiring about the country of birth of the reference person and his or
her mother and father. From these questions, the following three categories were
constructed: (1) born outside the 50 states and the District of Columbia, (2) first
generation, and (3) second generation or higher. First generation is defined as
individuals who were born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia, but who
had at least one parent who was not. Second generation or higher persons are
individuals who themselves, as well as both of their parents, were born in one of the 50
states or the District of Columbia. These three categories were subdivided using the
variable for the subject’s race/ethnicity (please see below) so that there were six
categories: the three immigration categories plus a Hispanic and non-Hispanic category
for each of the three immigration categories.
Race/ethnicity. This variable is constructed from two variables in the CPS. One asks about
the subject’s ethnic background and the second asks about the subject’s race. Those
reported as being of Hispanic background on the ethnic background question are
categorized as Hispanic irrespective of race. Non-Hispanics are then categorized by
race. Beginning in 2003, respondents were able to indicate two or more races. Those
who indicated two or more races and who did not indicate that they were Hispanic are
categorized as “Two or more races, non-Hispanic.”
Sex. Sex of the subject.

B-2 


�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables 


C-1 


�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-1.—Standard errors for table 1: Event dropout rates and number and distribution of 15- through
Table C-1.—24-year-olds who dropped out of grades 10–12, by selected characteristics: October 2008
Event
dropout
rate
(percent)

Number of
event
dropouts
(thousands)

Population
enrolled
(thousands)

Percent
of all
dropouts

Percent of
population
enrolled

Total

0.26

28.3

131.6

†

†

Sex
Male
Female

0.34
0.39

19.0
21.0

93.7
92.4

3.68
3.68

0.69
0.69

0.27
0.94
0.85

18.0
15.4
16.2

102.6
53.7
62.4

3.62
3.50
3.67

0.68
0.53
0.59

1.47

6.2

27.6

1.60

0.28

Family income
Low income
Middle income
High income

1.05
0.31
0.37

16.1
20.1
11.3

51.0
100.7
66.6

3.50
3.70
2.69

0.48
0.68
0.62

Age
15–16
17
18
19
20–24

0.40
0.41
0.50
1.11
2.79

12.4
15.6
14.8
9.0
9.6

64.7
31.8
44.7
37.4
26.9

2.90
3.40
3.29
2.25
2.50

0.63
0.66
0.61
0.36
0.24

2.17
1.49

9.4
6.2

31.3
26.6

2.40
1.59

0.31
0.26

1.08
0.60

9.1
4.7

40.2
34.1

2.27
1.20

0.42
0.36

1.52
0.29

9.5
23.1

35.1
111.4

2.38
3.49

0.36
0.62

0.50
0.47
0.50
0.58

10.1
12.5
19.1
14.9

57.4
65.4
80.8
64.3

2.45
2.93
3.78
3.33

0.55
0.61
0.68
0.59

Characteristic

Race/ethnicity
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander,
non-Hispanic

Recency of immigration
Born outside the 50 states and
District of Columbia
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
First generation
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
Second generation or higher
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
Region
Northeast
Midwest
South
West

† Not applicable. The corresponding statistic refers to the total population, which is, by definition, 100 percent of the

distribution.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 2008.


C-2

�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-2.	—Standard errors for table 2: Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out
Table C-2.—of grades 10–12, and number of dropouts and population of 15- through 24-year-olds who were
Table C-2.—enrolled: October 1972 through October 2008

Year

Event
dropout rate
(percent)

Number of
event dropouts
(thousands)

Population
enrolled
(thousands)

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

0.33
0.33
0.34
0.32
0.32

34.3
35.2
36.6
34.4
34.7

125.7
127.0
128.1
128.3
128.6

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

0.34
0.34
0.34
0.33
0.33

37.1
37.2
37.2
35.0
34.5

130.0
129.7
129.3
128.7
128.7

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986

0.34
0.33
0.33
0.34
0.32

34.6
33.1
32.4
32.3
31.1

126.8
125.7
123.9
122.8
123.7

1987
1988
1989
1990
1991

0.30
0.36
0.36
0.34
0.34

29.9
34.6
32.4
29.1
29.1

123.1
122.0
119.5
118.9
119.3

1992
1993
1994
1995
1996

0.35
0.36
0.34
0.35
0.34

30.5
30.4
34.5
36.0
34.1

120.1
119.5
123.6
124.3
124.8

1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

0.32
0.33
0.33
0.33
0.33

32.0
32.9
34.2
33.2
33.7

126.7
132.0
134.1
126.7
133.7

2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

0.27
0.28
0.30
0.27
0.27

27.5
29.6
31.4
29.1
28.9

127.2
129.3
128.4
130.5
130.6

See notes at end of table.

C-3 


�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-2.	—Standard errors for table 2: Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out
Table C-2.—of grades 10–12, and number of dropouts and population of 15- through 24-year-olds who were
Table C-2.—enrolled: October 1972 through October 2008—Continued

Year

Event
dropout rate
(percent)

Number of
event dropouts
(thousands)

Population
enrolled
(thousands)

2007
2008

0.26
0.26

28.1
28.3

131.2
131.6

NOTE: Some of the standard error estimates in this table may differ from those previously published due to changes in the

generalized variance parameters developed by the U.S. Census Bureau.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.


C-4 


�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-3.—Standard errors for table 3: Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out
Table C-3.—of grades 10–12, by sex and race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2008
Sex (percent)

Race/ethnicity (percent)
White nonBlack nonHispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic

Year

Total
(percent)

Male

Female

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

0.33
0.33
0.34
0.32
0.32

0.46
0.49
0.51
0.44
0.48

0.48
0.45
0.46
0.46
0.43

0.34
0.35
0.35
0.33
0.35

1.32
1.35
1.41
1.25
1.15

2.81
2.65
2.52
2.50
2.05

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

0.34
0.34
0.34
0.33
0.33

0.49
0.51
0.49
0.49
0.47

0.46
0.46
0.48
0.45
0.46

0.37
0.36
0.37
0.35
0.34

1.20
1.31
1.32
1.21
1.29

2.13
2.75
2.43
2.56
2.28

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986

0.34
0.33
0.33
0.34
0.32

0.49
0.50
0.49
0.50
0.46

0.46
0.45
0.46
0.48
0.45

0.36
0.35
0.36
0.36
0.34

1.21
1.17
1.06
1.26
1.05

2.31
2.44
2.51
2.55
2.69

1987
1988
1989
1990
1991

0.30
0.36
0.36
0.34
0.34

0.44
0.52
0.51
0.48
0.46

0.41
0.50
0.51
0.47
0.49

0.33
0.39
0.37
0.36
0.36

1.14
1.20
1.39
1.15
1.20

1.89
3.09
2.65
2.29
2.17

1992
1993
1994
1995
1996

0.35
0.36
0.34
0.35
0.34

0.46
0.51
0.48
0.51
0.49

0.53
0.50
0.49
0.48
0.51

0.38
0.40
0.37
0.38
0.38

1.09
1.20
1.03
1.00
1.05

2.23
2.03
1.52
1.61
1.50

1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

0.32
0.33
0.33
0.33
0.33

0.47
0.45
0.44
0.49
0.49

0.43
0.47
0.49
0.43
0.44

0.35
0.36
0.36
0.37
0.37

0.92
0.91
1.00
1.01
1.01

1.45
1.48
1.28
1.24
1.38

2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

0.27
0.28
0.30
0.27
0.27

0.39
0.40
0.44
0.40
0.39

0.37
0.38
0.41
0.36
0.36

0.28
0.31
0.34
0.29
0.30

0.87
0.85
0.94
1.03
0.77

1.01
1.06
1.20
0.87
1.01

See notes at end of table.

C-5 


�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-3.—Standard errors for table 3: Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out
Table C-3.—of grades 10–12, by sex and race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2008—Continued
Sex (percent)
Year

Total
(percent)

Male

Female

2007
2008

0.26
0.26

0.37
0.34

0.35
0.39

Race/ethnicity (percent)
White nonBlack nonHispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic
0.26
0.27

0.80
0.94

NOTE: Some of the standard error estimates in this table may differ from those previously published due to changes in the

generalized variance parameters developed by the U.S. Census Bureau.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.


C-6 


0.98
0.85

�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-4.—Standard errors for table 4: Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out
Table C-4.—of grades 10–12, by family income: October 1972 through October 2008

Year

Total
(percent)

Low income

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

0.33
0.33
0.34
0.32
0.32

1.55
1.65
†
1.57
1.61

0.45
0.46
†
0.43
0.46

0.39
0.32
†
0.38
0.34

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

0.34
0.34
0.34
0.33
0.33

1.57
1.69
1.62
1.51
1.50

0.48
0.48
0.47
0.46
0.45

0.35
0.40
0.44
0.38
0.41

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986

0.34
0.33
0.33
0.34
0.32

1.52
1.35
1.49
1.53
1.33

0.46
0.48
0.45
0.47
0.45

0.36
0.39
0.37
0.39
0.34

1987
1988
1989
1990
1991

0.30
0.36
0.36
0.34
0.34

1.29
1.59
1.43
1.39
1.43

0.45
0.48
0.50
0.45
0.44

0.27
0.35
0.33
0.33
0.31

1992
1993
1994
1995
1996

0.35
0.36
0.34
0.35
0.34

1.42
1.57
1.44
1.36
1.34

0.46
0.46
0.44
0.47
0.46

0.36
0.35
0.41
0.39
0.41

1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

0.32
0.33
0.33
0.33
0.33

1.36
1.34
1.26
1.23
1.36

0.41
0.39
0.44
0.45
0.45

0.37
0.46
0.40
0.35
0.37

2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

0.27
0.28
0.30
0.27
0.27

1.05
1.04
1.24
1.06
1.12

0.36
0.39
0.39
0.36
0.34

0.34
0.30
0.41
0.30
0.36

See notes at end of table.

C-7 


Family income (percent)
Middle income

High income

�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-4.—Standard errors for table 4: Event dropout rates of 15- through 24-year-olds who dropped out
Table C-4.—of grades 10–12, by family income: October 1972 through October 2008—Continued

Year

Total
(percent)

Low income

2007
2008

0.26
0.26

1.07
1.05

Family income (percent)
Middle income

High income

0.34
0.31

† Not applicable. Data for family income are not available for 1974.

NOTE: Some of the standard error estimates in this table may differ from those previously published due to changes in the

generalized variance parameters developed by the U.S. Census Bureau.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.


C-8 


0.25
0.37

�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-5.—Standard errors for table 6: Status dropout rates and number and distribution of dropouts of
Table C-5.—16- through 24-year-olds, by selected characteristics: October 2008
Status
dropout
rate
(percent)

Number
of status
dropouts
(thousands)

Population
(thousands)

Percent
of all
dropouts

Percent
of
population

Total

0.20

76.8

—

†

†

Sex
Male
Female

0.30
0.28

56.0
52.6

—
—

1.33
1.33

0.38
0.38

0.21
0.63
0.78

47.3
34.1
52.5

—
—
—

1.28
1.08
1.48

0.37
0.28
0.33

0.82

12.4

—

0.42

0.16

Characteristic

Race/ethnicity
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander,
non-Hispanic
American Indian/Alaska Native,
non-Hispanic
Two or more races,
non-Hispanic

3.20

9.4

—

0.34

0.07

1.17

8.3

—

0.28

0.11

Age
16
17
18
19
20–24

0.33
0.48
0.59
0.68
0.30

13.9
20.9
25.7
28.2
61.3

—
—
—
—
—

0.46
0.69
0.84
0.92
1.27

0.24
0.24
0.24
0.24
0.38

1.61
0.76

37.6
14.5

—
—

1.31
0.49

0.21
0.17

1.03
0.53

25.0
12.2

—
—

0.84
0.41

0.21
0.18

1.16
0.21

22.8
56.6

—
—

0.77
1.33

0.19
0.34

0.42
0.43
0.37
0.45

28.3
36.3
49.8
40.0

—
—
—
—

0.91
1.12
1.35
1.19

0.30
0.32
0.37
0.32

Recency of immigration
Born outside the 50 states and
District of Columbia
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
First generation
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
Second generation or higher
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
Region
Northeast
Midwest
South
West

— Not available.

† Not applicable. The corresponding statistic refers to the total population, which is, by definition, 100 percent of the 

distribution.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 2008.


C-9

�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-6.—Standard errors for table 7: Status dropout rates, number of status dropouts, and population
Table C-6.—of 16- through 24-year-olds: October 1972 through October 2008

Year

Status dropout rate
(percent)

Number of status dropouts
(thousands)

Population
(thousands)

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

0.28
0.27
0.27
0.27
0.26

91.1
90.9
92.0
92.0
93.3

—
—
—
—
—

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

0.27
0.27
0.27
0.26
0.26

94.9
95.6
96.8
95.4
96.1

—
—
—
—
—

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986

0.27
0.27
0.27
0.27
0.27

100.0
98.6
96.1
93.2
91.4

—
—
—
—
—

1987
1988
1989
1990
1991

0.28
0.30
0.31
0.29
0.30

92.3
100.2
98.0
92.0
92.8

—
—
—
—
—

1992
1993
1994
1995
1996

0.28
0.28
0.26
0.27
0.27

87.7
87.5
91.4
92.9
90.1

—
—
—
—
—

1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

0.27
0.27
0.26
0.26
0.25

87.4
90.8
89.7
89.3
89.3

—
—
—
—
—

2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

0.24
0.23
0.23
0.22
0.22

84.2
82.6
84.8
81.7
81.8

—
—
—
—
—

See notes at end of table.

C-10 


�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-6.—Standard errors for table 7: Status dropout rates, number of status dropouts, and population
Table C-6.—of 16- through 24-year-olds: October 1972 through October 2008—Continued

Year

Status dropout rate
(percent)

Number of status dropouts
(thousands)

Population
(thousands)

2007
2008

0.21
0.20

79.8
76.8

—
—

— Not available.

NOTE: Some of the standard error estimates in this table may differ from those previously published due to changes in the

generalized variance parameters developed by the U.S. Census Bureau. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.


C-11 


�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-7.—Standard errors for table 8: Status dropout rates of 16- through 24-year-olds, by sex and
Table C-7.—race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2008
Sex (percent)

Race/ethnicity (percent)
White nonBlack nonHispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic

Year

Total
(percent)

Male

Female

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

0.28
0.27
0.27
0.27
0.26

0.40
0.38
0.39
0.37
0.38

0.39
0.38
0.38
0.38
0.37

0.29
0.28
0.28
0.27
0.28

1.07
1.06
1.05
1.06
1.01

2.22
2.24
2.08
2.02
2.01

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

0.27
0.27
0.27
0.26
0.26

0.38
0.38
0.39
0.39
0.38

0.37
0.37
0.37
0.36
0.35

0.28
0.28
0.28
0.27
0.27

1.00
1.00
1.01
0.97
0.93

2.02
2.00
1.98
1.89
1.80

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986

0.27
0.27
0.27
0.27
0.27

0.40
0.41
0.40
0.40
0.40

0.38
0.37
0.37
0.37
0.37

0.29
0.29
0.29
0.29
0.28

0.98
0.97
0.92
0.92
0.90

1.93
1.93
1.91
1.93
1.88

1987
1988
1989
1990
1991

0.28
0.30
0.31
0.29
0.30

0.40
0.44
0.45
0.42
0.43

0.38
0.42
0.42
0.41
0.41

0.30
0.32
0.32
0.30
0.31

0.91
1.00
0.98
0.94
0.95

1.84
2.30
2.19
1.91
1.93

1992
1993
1994
1995
1996

0.28
0.28
0.26
0.27
0.27

0.41
0.40
0.38
0.38
0.36

0.39
0.40
0.36
0.37
0.36

0.29
0.29
0.27
0.28
0.26

0.95
0.94
0.75
0.74
0.75

1.86
1.79
1.16
1.15
1.13

1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

0.27
0.27
0.26
0.26
0.25

0.39
0.40
0.38
0.38
0.38

0.36
0.36
0.36
0.35
0.34

0.28
0.28
0.27
0.26
0.26

0.80
0.81
0.77
0.78
0.71

1.11
1.12
1.11
1.08
1.06

2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

0.24
0.23
0.23
0.22
0.22

0.35
0.34
0.34
0.33
0.33

0.32
0.30
0.31
0.29
0.30

0.24
0.24
0.24
0.23
0.23

0.70
0.69
0.70
0.66
0.66

0.93
0.90
0.89
0.87
0.86

See notes at end of table.

C-12 


�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-7.—Standard errors for table 8: Status dropout rates of 16- through 24-year-olds, by sex and
Table C-7.—race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October 2008—Continued
Sex (percent)
Year

Total
(percent)

Male

Female

2007
2008

0.21
0.20

0.32
0.30

0.29
0.28

Race/ethnicity (percent)
White nonBlack nonHispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic
0.22
0.21

0.59
0.63

NOTE: Some of the standard error estimates in this table may differ from those previously published due to changes in the

generalized variance parameters developed by the U.S. Census Bureau.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.


C-13 


0.83
0.78

�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-8.	—Standard errors for table 9: Status completion rates, and number and distribution of
Table C-8.—completers ages 18–24 not currently enrolled in high school or below, by selected
Table C-8.—characteristics: October 2008
Completion
rate
(percent)

Number of
completers
(thousands)

Population
(thousands)

Percent
of all
completers

Percent of
population

Total

0.27

72.6

—

†

†

Sex
Male
Female

0.39
0.37

52.6
50.0

—
—

0.47
0.47

0.44
0.44

0.26
0.86
1.03

44.4
32.0
49.2

—
—
—

0.44
0.34
0.37

0.43
0.32
0.38

0.98

10.7

—

0.20

0.18

Characteristic

Race/ethnicity
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander,
non-Hispanic
American Indian/Alaska Native,
non-Hispanic
Two or more races,
non-Hispanic

4.03

8.7

—

0.08

0.08

1.72

7.7

—

0.13

0.12

Age
18–19
20–21
22–24

0.55
0.47
0.40

38.3
37.3
49.1

—
—
—

0.41
0.43
0.46

0.39
0.40
0.44

1.89
0.91

34.9
14.0

—
—

0.22
0.22

0.25
0.20

Recency of immigration
Born outside the 50 states and
District of Columbia
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
First generation
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
Second generation or higher
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic

1.48
0.69

23.5
11.3

—
—

0.24
0.23

0.23
0.21

1.58
0.27

21.2
53.0

—
—

0.22
0.41

0.22
0.40

Region
Northeast
Midwest
South
West

0.56
0.58
0.47
0.57

27.4
34.4
46.6
37.9

—
—
—
—

0.37
0.40
0.46
0.40

0.35
0.38
0.44
0.38

— Not available.

† Not applicable. The corresponding statistic refers to the total population, which is, by definition, 100 percent of the 

distribution.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 2008.


C-14

�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-9.—Standard errors for table 10: Status completion rates, number of completers, and population
Table C-9.—of 18- through 24-year-olds: October 1972 through October 2008

Year

Completion rate
(percent)

Number of completers
(thousands)

Population
(thousands)

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

0.32
0.31
0.31
0.30
0.30

82.8
82.3
83.3
83.8
85.3

—
—
—
—
—

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

0.30
0.30
0.30
0.30
0.29

94.5
87.4
88.9
87.5
88.9

—
—
—
—
—

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986

0.31
0.31
0.31
0.31
0.31

93.1
92.2
89.8
86.6
85.1

—
—
—
—
—

1987
1988
1989
1990
1991

0.32
0.36
0.36
0.34
0.34

86.0
93.7
91.7
86.5
84.4

—
—
—
—
—

1992
1993
1994
1995
1996

0.33
0.34
0.34
0.35
0.35

82.3
82.1
79.8
80.3
80.9

—
—
—
—
—

1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

0.35
0.36
0.34
0.33
0.33

82.3
85.8
83.8
83.4
83.4

—
—
—
—
—

2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

0.31
0.30
0.30
0.30
0.29

79.8
78.6
80.3
78.0
77.8

—
—
—
—
—

See notes at end of table.

C-15 


�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-9.—Standard errors for table 10: Status completion rates, number of completers, and population
Table C-9.—of 18- through 24-year-olds: October 1972 through October 2008—Continued

Year

Completion rate
(percent)

Number of completers
(thousands)

Population
(thousands)

2007
2008

0.28
0.27

75.2
72.6

—
—

— Not available.

NOTE: Some of the standard error estimates in this table may differ from those previously published due to changes in the

generalized variance parameters developed by the U.S. Census Bureau. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.


C-16 


�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-10.	—Standard errors for table 11: Status completion rates of 18- through 24-year-olds not currently
Table C-10.—enrolled in high school or below, by sex and race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October
Table C-10.—2008
Sex (percent)

Race/ethnicity (percent)
White nonBlack nonHispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic

Year

Total
(percent)

Male

Female

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

0.32
0.31
0.31
0.30
0.30

0.51
0.49
0.49
0.47
0.48

0.48
0.47
0.46
0.46
0.45

0.33
0.31
0.31
0.30
0.31

1.20
1.17
1.17
1.18
1.12

1.83
1.83
1.70
1.72
1.68

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

0.30
0.30
0.30
0.30
0.29

0.49
0.48
0.49
0.48
0.48

0.45
0.45
0.45
0.43
0.43

0.31
0.31
0.31
0.30
0.30

1.12
1.11
1.11
1.07
1.02

1.66
1.61
1.58
1.51
1.46

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986

0.31
0.31
0.31
0.31
0.31

0.49
0.50
0.49
0.49
0.50

0.45
0.45
0.45
0.44
0.45

0.32
0.32
0.32
0.32
0.32

1.06
1.06
0.99
1.00
0.99

1.57
1.59
1.54
1.58
1.51

1987
1988
1989
1990
1991

0.32
0.36
0.36
0.34
0.34

0.51
0.57
0.57
0.53
0.55

0.47
0.51
0.51
0.50
0.50

0.34
0.36
0.37
0.34
0.35

0.99
1.13
1.11
1.03
1.06

1.47
1.78
1.73
1.54
1.53

1992
1993
1994
1995
1996

0.33
0.34
0.34
0.35
0.35

0.53
0.53
0.49
0.50
0.50

0.49
0.50
0.45
0.47
0.48

0.33
0.35
0.34
0.36
0.34

1.07
1.07
1.02
1.01
1.08

1.53
1.49
1.43
1.40
1.49

1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

0.35
0.36
0.34
0.33
0.33

0.51
0.53
0.50
0.49
0.50

0.47
0.47
0.46
0.44
0.43

0.36
0.36
0.34
0.33
0.34

1.10
1.11
1.04
1.01
0.97

1.42
1.37
1.39
1.36
1.31

2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

0.31
0.30
0.30
0.30
0.29

0.46
0.46
0.46
0.45
0.48

0.41
0.40
0.40
0.38
0.44

0.31
0.31
0.31
0.30
0.36

0.95
0.96
0.98
0.91
1.03

1.15
1.15
1.12
1.12
1.10

See notes at end of table.

C-17 


�Appendix C—Standard Error Tables
Table C-10.	—Standard errors for table 11: Status completion rates of 18- through 24-year-olds not currently
Table C-10.—enrolled in high school or below, by sex and race/ethnicity: October 1972 through October
Table C-10.—2008—Continued
Sex (percent)
Year

Total
(percent)

Male

Female

2007
2008

0.28
0.27

0.42
0.39

0.37
0.37

Race/ethnicity (percent)
White nonBlack nonHispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic
0.28
0.26

0.80
0.86

1.07
1.03

NOTE: Some of the standard error estimates in this table may differ from those previously published due to changes in the

generalized variance parameters developed by the U.S. Census Bureau.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1972–2008.


Table C-11.	—Standard errors for figure 3: Status dropout rates of 16- through 24-year-olds, by
Table C-12.—race/ethnicity and sex: October 2008

Total
Race/ethnicity
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
Two or more races, non-Hispanic

Male	

Female

0.30

0.28

0.30
0.85
1.12
1.11
5.32
1.51

0.28
0.93
1.08
1.21
3.86
1.80

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 2008.

Table C-12.	—Standard errors for figure 5: Status completion rates of 18- through 24-year-olds not
Table C-13.—currently enrolled in high school or below, by race/ethnicity and sex: October 2008

Total
Race/ethnicity
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
Two or more races, non-Hispanic

Male	

Female

0.39

0.37

0.39
1.15
1.48
1.47
7.04
2.18

0.35
1.25
1.42
1.30
4.51
2.69

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 2008.

C-18 


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                    <text>�·TESTING BUREAU

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION
Harrisburg, Pa.

17126

APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR THE COMMONWEALTH
SECONDARY $CHOOL DIPLOMA OR GRADE EQUIVALENT
CERTIFICATE
The General Educational Development Testing Program (G.E.D.) was
adopted by the State Council of Education in August, 1963, to enable Pennsylvania residents, who are not High School graduates, to earn a Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma.
The G.E.D. Program was initiated by the Department of Public
Education and implimented by the Division of Testing to replace the procedure of accumulating sufficient subject credits in order to qualify for
the Secondary School Diploma.
Since its inception in 1963, over 20,000 Pennsylvania residents
have successfully completed the G.E.D. Test and have been awarded a
Secondary School Diploma. More than 9,500,.:applicants were tested during
1967. At the present time, the Bureau of Guidance receives more than
1,000 applications per month.
The G.E.D. Test has been constructed somewhat differently from the
usual school achievement tests. In a formal secondary setting, there is
likely to be a more complete and detailed coverage of specific facts learned
through the use of reference books, textbooks, and planned lesson presentations.
The G.E.D, Test is designed to permit the individual to take advantage of
knowledge acquired as a result of first-hand observation, direct experience,
self-directed reading and study, conversations and informal group discussions ,
and other experiences with problems, ideas, and people.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Any resident (living in Pennsylvania at least three months prior to
making application to the test), not currently enrolled in an approved
secondary school program. eighteen years of age or older, or whose original
class has graduated, is eligible to take the G.E.D. Test. No previous
school attendance is required if the applicant meets these requirements . A
transcript of grades previously earned is not required. Non-residents may
take the G.E.D. Test but they will be issued a Certificate of Completion
and not a Commonwealth Diploma.
HeM TO APPLY
Applicants should secure a G.E.D. application from the local high
school principal Test Center Director or write to Division of Testing,
Box 911. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

�2

Please print all information sections using a ballpoint pen or pencil
and use sufficient pressure to permit the markings to show on all three
copies. All items must be completed if the application is to be processed
for approval.
Please complete the home address section at the bottom of the application and the identification section (Social Security I·iumber and :•:arne) in the
upper right portion of the application. Do not write in the Test Center Information section. Do not sign your name in the blocks numbered 8 or 9.
Report to the Testing Bureau one half-hour before testing time with
your completed application for registration and application approval.
Testing times are listed on the enclosed sheet. Applicat i ons may be approved
during this time only .
Applicants are required to show a piece of acceptable identification
which includes their signature and/or photograph (i.e., driver's license,
draft card, etc.).
The fee for testing i s $10.00 and mus_t be paid in full at time of
registration. Checks should be made payable to Temple University.
TEST CO;ITE '·.JT
The G.E.D. Test cons i ~+. s of five seperate tests and measures the
candidate's knowledge and underst anding in the following areas:
1.

Correctness and Effectiveness of Expression (spelling and
English grammar)

*2.

Reading and Interpretation of Materials in Social Studies

*3. Reading and Interpretation of Materials in Natural Sciences
*4. Reading and Interpretation of Materials in Literary Materials
*These three tests are designed to determine the applicant's
ability to interpret and to evaluate a number of reading selections. Factual recall is not of prime importance in this
type of test •

5. General Mathematical Ability (problem solving, use of tables
and graphs, units of measurement, algebraic and geometric
concepts)
EIGHTH AI'ID TENTH GRADE CERTIFI CATES
Residents in need of ~ certificate for job or professional
licensing can obtain an Eighth Grade Equivalent Certificate or Tenth Grade
Equivalent Certificate thr~ the G.E.D. Testing Program. The official
Test Centers administer this program and applicants for the Tenth Grade
Certificate should follow the procedure outlined above.
MILTIARY

PERS O~!NEL

Residents who have completed the G.E.D. Test while a member of
the Armed Forces may be eligibl e to receive the Secondary School Diploma.

�3
I~ he is currently serving on active duty, the applicant should contact his
Unit Education Of~icer ~or application procedures. 'I'he applicant should also
request a Diploma or Certificate from Credentials Evaluation, Department of
Public Education, Box 911, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17126.

If an applicant has concluded his active military service, he should
write to USAFI Headquarters, Madison, Wisconsin, and request that o~ice to
send a transcript of his test results to Credentials Evaluation in Harrisburg.
The applicant should also request a Diploma or Certi~icate from the Credentials
Evaluation Division.
RETESTING
An applicant who has not successfully completed the G.E.D. Test may
take a retest following a waiting period of twelve (12) months. This
waiting period can be reduced if the applicant receives twenty-five (25) hours
o~ private tutoring or completes twenty-five (25) hours of work in a Standard
Evening School Program or an Adult Education Program. The Philadelphia
Board of Education can supply information concerning tutoring. An applicant
does not have to retake the entire test. He may chose to take one or more
test areas in order to acquire the score necessary to qualify for the Diploma
or Certificate.

The testing procedure for retesting is identical to the process
stated above. See section entitled "How to Apply.''
SINGLE SUBJECT TESTING
Some residents will have a need to earn individual subject credit
to qualify for entrance into college. The of~icial Testing Centers have
available single subject tests and will administer these tests to qualified
applicants possessing a regular High School Diploma or Commonwealth Secondary
Diploma. A full range of Academic and General Secondary Subject tests are
available. Interested applicants should consult with the Testing Center.
REGULATIONS CONCERNING REQUIRED SCORES, AGE, AND GRADE COMPLETION

Total Score Required
Average Scores Required
Lowest Passing Score on Subtests
Minimum Age for Issuance of Credential
Original Class Must Have Completed Grade
Waiting Period for Retests (Months)

Secondary
Diploma

Tenth Grade
Certificate

225

195
39

45
35
18
12
12

31
17
10

6

�PROCEDURES AND TEST SCHEDULE FOR THE
GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (GED) PROGRAM
April 1, 1971 to August 29, 1971
TESTING BUREAU- TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
(215) 787-8615

1.

GED tests are taken in order to obtain a Commonwea lth Secondary School Diploma or
Grade Equivalent Certificate for grades eight and t en. Also, GED tests are taken for enlistment in the Armed Forces, or for special training programs requiring results of the five
GED tests.

2.

Tests will be given every Thursday and Friday f ro m 12: 30 Noon to 4:30P.M. and every
Saturday from 9:30A.M . to 1:30 P.M., except on t hose days when the University is
closed (holidays). Approximately ten hours are requ ired to complete the GED battery
of five tests. A test may not be started with less than two hours remaining in the test
period. Every test must be finished on the day it Is started.

3.

The fee for the GED Test Battery (f ive test s) for th e high school equivalent diploma or for
the 10th grade certificate is $10, payable in full on the first day of testing. The fee for the
8th grade equivalent test is $6.

4.

No appointment is necessary for the regul ar testing dates. Candidates taking the GED Testing
Program must register at the Testing Bureau, Room 300 Sull ivan Hall, Park Avenue &amp; Berks
Street, Philadelphia, Pa. Applicants are required to show a piece of acceptable identification
which includes their signature and/ or photograph . Registration on test days is between 12:00 and
12:30 o'clock on Thursdays and Fri days, and between 9:00A.M. and 9 :30A.M. on Saturdays.
Late arrivals wil l be registered, but w ill probabl y be able to take only one test on that day. The
registration procedure is presented in Section Five.

5.

Registration procedures involve:
A. Candidates for the Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma must report to the
Testing Bureau , Room 300 Sullivan Hall, located at Park Avenue and Berks Street,
Philadelphia, Pa. on the fi rst day of t esting.

6.

B.

Fees will be paid at the Comptrollers Office, fi rst floor of Conwell Hall, Broad Street
and Montgomery Avenue.

C.

Testing is conducted in Room 10 Curtis Hall , located at Montgomery and Park Avenues.

Upon completion of the examinations (GED or Equ ivalent) the Testing Bureau will forward
the results to the Department of Public Education, or to any authorized college, industrial
or Armed Forces recruiting center. Diploma candidates will receive notification of passing or
failing from the Department of Publ ic Educat ion, Harrisburg, approximately six weeks
after completion of testing. The Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma will be issued
approximately eight weeks after testing, for those who have successfully met the standards.

Harold C. Reppert, Ph.D.
Director, Testing Bureau

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                    <text>South Carolina Computer-Based GED Test Centers
as of September 1, 2015

County

GED Testing Center

Street Address

City

Zip

Phone

Abbeville

Abbeville County Adult Education Center

400 Greenville Street

Abbeville

29620

864-366-4226

Aiken

Aiken County Adult Education - Byrd Learning Center

1 Willis Circle

Graniteville

29803

803-641-2476

Allendale

Allendale-Fairfax Learning Center

1843 Main Street South

Allendale

29810

803-584-3107

Anderson

Anderson 5 Adult Education Center

2005 North Main Street

Anderson

29621

864-260-5075

Anderson

Anderson Districts 1 and 2 Adult Education Center

214 Lebby Street

Pelzer

29669

864-947-9311

Bamberg

No Test Center At This Time

Barnwell

No Test Center At This Time

Beaufort

Beaufort County Adult Education Center

1300 King Street

Beaufort

29901

843-322-0780

Berkeley

Berkeley Educational Center

113 East Main Street

Moncks Corner

29461

843-899-8703

Berkeley

Fishburne Educational Center

6215 Murray Drive

Hanahan

29410

843-820-3742

Calhoun
Charleston

No Test Center At This Time
Charleston County Adult Education at Brentwood Campus

2685 Leeds Avenue

N. Charleston

29405

843-529-3142

Cherokee

Ola H. Copeland Community Learning Center

243 Allison Drive

Gaffney

29341

864-206-6992

Chester

No Test Center At This Time

Chesterfield

Chesterfield County Adult Education Center

116 Edwards Road

Chesterfield

29709

843-623-2200

Clarendon

F.E. DuBose Career Center-Central Carolina Technical College

3351 Sumter Highway

Manning

29102

803-473-2531

Colleton

Colleton County Adult Education Center

609 Colleton Loop

Walterboro

29488

843-782-0018

Darlington

Darlington County Adult Education Center

100 Magnolia Street

Darlington

29532

843-398-2856

Dillon

Dillon County Adult Education Center

214 West Main Street

Dillon

29536

843-774-1218

Dorchester

Summerville Adult Learning Center

1325 Boone Hill Road Ste A

Summerville

29483

843-873-7372

Edgefield

Edgefield County Adult Education Center

117 Cardinal Street

Johnston

29832

803-275-4158

Fairfield

No Test Center At This Time

Florence

Florence 1 - Poynor Adult Education Center

301 South Dargan Street

Florence

29506

843-664-8152 x 6409

Georgetown

Howard Adult Education Center

500 S. Kaminski Street

Georgetown

29440

843-546-0219

Greenville

Lifelong Learning at Sullivan Center

206 Wilkins Street

Greenville

29605

864-355-3433

Greenwood

Greenwood County Adult Education Center

400 Glenwood Street

Greenwood

29649

864-941-5450

Hampton

No Test Center At This Time

Horry

Conway Adult Education Center

1620 Sherwood Drive

Conway

29526

843-488-6200

Horry

Myrtle Beach Family Learning Center

3101 Oak Street

Myrtle Beach

29577

843-488-6200

Jasper

No Test Center At This Time

Kershaw

Kershaw County Adult Education Center

874 Vocational Lane

Camden

29020

803-425-8980

Lancaster

Lancaster County Adult Education Center

610 East Meeting Street

Lancaster

29720

803-285-7660

Laurens

Laurens County Adult Education - Higher Education Center

663 Medical Ridge Road

Clinton

29325

864-938-1524

1 - 9/16/2015

�South Carolina Computer-Based GED Test Centers
as of September 1, 2015
County

GED Testing Center

Street Address

City

Zip

Phone

Lee

Lee County Adult Education Center

123 East College Street

Bishopville

29010

803-484-4040

Lexington

Adult Education of Lexington-Richland Counties-Irmo

6671 Saint Andrews Road

Columbia

29212

803-476-8229

Lexington

Lexington 1 Adult Education Center

420 Hendrix Street

Lexington

29072

803-821-2950

Lexington

Lexington 2 Adult Education-Pair Center

2325 Platt Springs Road

West Columbia

29169

803-739-4048

Lexington

Lexington District 3 Lifelong Learning Center

101 West Columbia Avenue

Batesburg/Leesville

29006

803-532-2141

Lexington

Lexington 4 Adult Education Center

135 Lewis Rast Road

Swansea

29160

803-399-7979

Marion

Marion County Adult Education Center

410 E. Liberty Street

Marion

29571

843-423-2591

Marlboro

Marlboro County Adult Education Center

215 Broad Street

Bennettsville

29512

843-479-5923

McCormick

McCormick County Adult Education Center

6981 Highway 28 South

McCormick

29835

864-443-0051

Newberry

Newberry County Adult Education Center

591 McSwain Street

Newberry

29108

803-321-2112

Oconee

Oconee County Adult Education Center

315 Holland Avenue

Seneca

29678

864-886-4429

Orangeburg

Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College

3250 Saint Matthews Road

Orangeburg

29118

803-268-2539

Pickens

Pickens County Adult Learning Center

106 Glazner Street

Easley

29640

864-397-3825

Richland

Richland One Adult Education Center

2612 Covenant Road

Columbia

29204

803-251-4512

Richland

W R Rogers Adult, Continuing, and Technology Education Center

750 Old Clemson Road

Columbia

29229

803-736-8787

Richland

Virginia College

7201 Two Notch Road

Columbia

29223

803-509-7100

Richland

Adult Education of Lexington-Richland Counties-Irmo

6671 Saint Andrews Road

Columbia

29212

803-476-8229

Saluda

Saluda County Adult Education Center

403B North Calhoun Street

Saluda

29138

864-445-3346

Spartanburg

Spartanburg County Adult Education- Z L Madden Learning Center

459 West Centennial Street

Spartanburg

29303

Sumter

Sumter County Adult Education Center

905 North Main Street

Sumter

29150

864-594-4428
803-778-6432

Union

Union County Adult Education Center

517 East Main Street

Union

29379

864-429-1770

Williamsburg

Williamsburg County Adult Education Center-Kingstree

500 North Academy Street

Kingstree

29556

843-355-6887

Williamsburg

Williamsburg County Adult Education Center-Hemingway

2811 SC Highway, 41/51 South

Hemingway

29554

843-355-6887

York

Rock Hill Flexible Learning Center

1234 Flint Street Extension

Rock Hill

29730

803-981-1375

2 - 9/16/2015

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                    <text>FY2019 ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM DIRECTORY
Adult Education Program
Albany Technical College
Ms. Linda Coston, Vice President of Adult Education
1704 S. Slappey Boulevard
Albany, GA 31701
Office: (229) 430-1620
Fax: (229) 430-2835
Email: lcoston@albanytech.edu
Website: http://www.albanytech.edu/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=82&amp;Itemid=8

Counties Served
Baker County
Calhoun County
Clay County
Dougherty County
Lee County
Randolph County
Terrell County

Asian American Resource Center
Mr. Christopher B. Durden, Program Administrator
3635 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Suite 450
Duluth, GA 30096
Office: (770) 270-0663 (Ext. 405)
Fax: (770) 270-0979
Email: manager@aarc-atlanta.org
Website: http://aarc-atlanta.org/social-services/english-literacy-civics

DeKalb County
Fulton County
Gwinnett County

Athens Technical College
Ms. Stephanie Benson, Vice President of Adult Education
800 U.S. Highway 29 North
Athens, GA 30601-1500
Office: (706) 583-2551
Fax: (706) 355-5181
Email: sbenson@athenstech.edu
Website: http://www.athenstech.edu/adultEd/index.cfm

Clarke County
Elbert County
Greene County
Hart County
Madison County
Morgan County
Oconee County
Oglethorpe County
Taliaferro County
Walton County
Wilkes County

Atlanta Public Schools
Dr. Albenny Price, Program Administrator
Adult Learning Center
1757 Mary Dell Drive, SE
Atlanta, GA 30316
Office: (404) 802-3560
Fax: (404) 802-3568
Email: aprice@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Website: www.atlantapublicschools.us/adulteducation

Fulton County

Revised 10/15/2018

1

�FY2019 ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM DIRECTORY
Adult Education Program
Atlanta Technical College
Ms. Dorna F. Werdelin, Associate Vice President of Adult Education
New Connections Building
1560 Metropolitan Parkway, SW
Atlanta, GA 30310-4446
Office: (404) 225-4433
Fax: (404) 225-4641
Email: dwerdelin@atlantatech.edu
Website: http://www.atlantatech.edu/student-services/other-services-resources/adult-literacy-ged-prep/
Augusta Technical College
Ms. Angela M. Moseley, Dean of Adult Education
3200 Augusta Tech Drive, Building 300
Augusta, GA 30906
Office: (706) 771-4131 or (706) 771-4132
Fax: (706) 771-4133
Email: angela.moseley@augustatech.edu
Website: http://www.augustatech.edu/adult_education/adult_ed_home.html
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Inc.
Ms. Sharetta Bartley, Program Administrator
3669 North Peachtree Road, Suite 100
Chamblee, GA 30341
Office: (770) 790-3104
Fax: (770) 792-8002
Email: sbartley@catholiccharitiesatlanta.org
Website: http://catholiccharitiesatlanta.org/services
Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc.
Ms. Paulene Barnes, Program Administrator
3510 Shallowford Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30341
Office: (770) 936-0969 Ext. 133
Fax: (770) 458-9377
Email: Paulene.Barnes@cpacs.org
Website: https://cpacs.org/el-civics/
Central Georgia Technical College
Ms. Brenda Brown, Vice President of Adult Education
80 Cohen Walker Drive
Warner Robins, GA 31088
Office: (478) 218-3288 or 1-800-474-1031 (Ext. 6)
Fax: (478) 988-7089
Email: bbrown@centralgatech.edu
Website: http://www.centralgatech.edu/general/adultlearn/index.cfm

Revised 10/15/2018

Counties Served
Clayton County (Forest Park-Day)
Fulton County

Burke County
Columbia County
Lincoln County
McDuffie County
Richmond County

Cobb County
DeKalb County
Gwinnett County
North Fulton County

Cobb County
DeKalb County
Fulton County
Gwinnett County

Baldwin County
Bibb County
Crawford County
Dooly County
Houston County
Jones County
Monroe County
Peach County
Pulaski County
Putnam County
Twiggs County
2

�FY2019 ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM DIRECTORY
Adult Education Program
Chattahoochee Technical College
Ms. Christine Hord, Program Administrator
North Metro Campus
5198 Ross Road
Acworth, GA 30102
Office: (770) 975.4272
Fax: (770) 529-2460
Email: chris.hord@chattahoocheetech.edu
Website: http://www.chattahoocheetech.edu/adult-education/

Counties Served
Bartow County
Cherokee County
Gilmer County
North Paulding County
Pickens County

Clayton County Schools
Mr. James Wilburn, Coordinator for Adult Education
137 Spring Street
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Office: (770) 515-7610
Fax: (770) 515-7687
Email: jwilburn@clayton.k12.ga.us
Website: http://www.clayton.k12.ga.us/departments/instruction/adulteducation

Clayton County

Coastal Pines Technical College
Ms. Kelly Peacock, Executive Director of Adult Education
1701 Carswell Avenue
Waycross, GA 31503
Office: (912) 287-6580
Fax: (912) 287-6582
Email: kpeacock@coastalpines.edu
Website: http://www.coastalpines.edu/programs/adult-education/

Appling County
Bacon County
Brantley County
Camden County
Charlton County
Clinch County
Glynn County
Jeff Davis County
Long County
McIntosh County
Pierce County
Ware County
Wayne County

Cobb County School District
Ms. Francia Browne, Director of Adult Education
Cobb/Paulding Adult Education Program
240 Barber Road, SE
Marietta, GA 30060
Office: (678) 594-8011 (Ext. 245 or 240)
Fax: (678) 594-8015
Email: Francia.browne@cobbk12.org
Website: http://www.cobbk12.org/Adulted

Cobb County
South Paulding County

Revised 10/15/2018

3

�FY2019 ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM DIRECTORY
Adult Education Program
Columbus Technical College
Ms. April Hopson, Director of Adult Education
928 Manchester Expressway
Columbus, GA 31904
Office: (706) 641-5620
Fax: (706) 321-5777
Email: ahopson@columbustech.edu
Website: http://www.columbustech.edu/adult-education/

Counties Served
Chattahoochee County
Harris County
Muscogee County
Quitman County
Stewart County
Talbot County

Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Ms. Kerri Hosmer, Vice President of Adult Education
One Maurice Culberson Drive
Rome, GA 30161
Office: (706) 295-6976
Fax: (706) 802-5288
Email: khosmer@gntc.edu
Website: http://www.gntc.edu/adulted

Catoosa County
Chattooga County
Dade County
Floyd County
Gordon County
Murray County
Polk County
Walker County
Whitfield County
DeKalb County
Newton County
Rockdale County

Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Dr. Meghan McBride, Dean of Adult Education
495 North Indian Creek Drive
Clarkston, GA 30021
Office: (404) 297-9522 (Ext. 4000 or 4003)
Fax: (404) 294-6496
Email: mcbridem@gptc.edu
Website: http://www.gptc.edu/content.cfm?PageCode=adult
Gwinnett Technical College
Ms. Stephanie Rooks, Dean of Adult Education
5150 Sugarloaf Parkway
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Office: (678) 226-6662 or (678) 226-6702
Fax: (770) 338-7198
Email: srooks@gwinnetttech.edu
Website: http://gwinnetttech.edu/ged
International Rescue Committee, Inc.
Ms. Lauren Mertens, English Literacy &amp; Civics Coordinator
2305 Parklake Drive, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30345
Office: (678) 636-8964
Fax: (404) 292-5325
Email: Lauren.mertens@rescue.org
Website: http://www.rescue.org/us-program/us-atlanta-ga

Revised 10/15/2018

Gwinnett County
North Fulton County

DeKalb County

4

�FY2019 ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM DIRECTORY
Adult Education Program
Lanier Technical College
Mr. Shannon Cole, Interim Program Administrator
719 Woodsmill Road
Gainesville, GA 30501
Office: (770) 531-3367
Fax: (678) 989-3218
Email: scole@laniertech.edu
Website: http://www.laniertech.edu/AdultEducation/AdultEducation-main.aspx
Literacy Action, Inc.
Ms. Diana Brace, Associate Director of Programs
231 Peachtree Street, NE
Suite M-100
Atlanta, GA 30303
Office: (404) 818-7335
Fax: (404) 818-7322
Email: dbrace@literacyaction.org
Website: http://www.literacyaction.org/classes/
North Georgia Technical College
Ms. Shelby Ward, Dean of Adult Education
P.O. Box 65/1701 Highway 197 North
Clarkesville, GA 30523
Office: (706) 754-7781 or (706) 754-7717
Fax: (706) 754-7801
Email: sward@northgatech.edu
Website: https://www.northgatech.edu/pages/adulted/default.aspx
Northwest Georgia Housing Authority
Mr. Christopher J. Cameron, Program Administrator
1 Brookwood Avenue
Rome, GA 30165
Office: (706) 368-5738
Fax: (706) 295-9374
Email: ccameron@nwgha.com
Website: www.nwgha.com
Oconee Fall Line Technical College
Ms. Tiffany Lofton, Dean of Adult Education
1189 Deepstep Road
Sandersville, GA 31082
Office: (478) 553-2079 or (478) 274-7848
Fax: (478) 553-2127
Email: tlofton@oftc.edu
Website: http://www.oftc.edu/programs/adult-education-ged/

Revised 10/15/2018

Counties Served
Banks County
Barrow County
Dawson County
Forsyth County
Hall County
Jackson County
Lumpkin County
DeKalb County
Fulton County

Fannin County
Franklin County
Habersham County
Rabun County
Stephens County
Towns County
Union County
White County
Floyd County
Polk County

Bleckley County
Dodge County
Glascock County
Hancock County
Jefferson County
Laurens County
Telfair County
Warren County
Washington County
Wheeler County
Wilkinson County
5

�FY2019 ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM DIRECTORY
Adult Education Program
Ogeechee Technical College
Ms. Samantha N. Smith, Dean of Adult Education
Mailing Address:
One Joseph E. Kennedy Boulevard
Statesboro, GA 30458

Counties Served
Bulloch County
Evans County
Screven County

Main Location:
Ogeechee Technical College
Bulloch County Workforce Development Center
20 Joe Kennedy Boulevard
Statesboro, GA 30458
Office: (912) 871-1721
Fax: (912) 871-1818
Email: ssmith@ogeecheetech.edu
Website: http://www.ogeecheetech.edu/adult
Savannah Technical College
Dr. Brent A. Stubbs, Vice President of Adult Education
5717 White Bluff Road
Savannah, GA 31405
Office: (912) 443-4150
Fax: (912) 443-5439
Email: bstubbs@savannahtech.edu
Website: http://www.savannahtech.edu/ged-esl/general-information

Bryan County
Chatham County
Effingham County
Liberty County

South Georgia Technical College
Ms. Lillie Ann Winn, Dean of Adult Education
900 South Georgia Tech Parkway
Americus, GA 31709
Office: (229) 931-7323
Fax: (229) 931-2567
Email: lawinn@southgatech.edu
Website: http://www.southgatech.edu/index.cfm?PageID=235

Crisp County
Macon County
Marion County
Schley County
Sumter County
Taylor County
Webster County

Southeastern Technical College
Ms. Susan B. Cross, Executive Director of Adult Education
346 Kite Road
Swainsboro, GA 30401
Office: (478) 289-2260
Fax: (478) 289-2214
Email: scross@southeasterntech.edu
Website: http://www.southeasterntech.edu/prospectivestudents/adulteducation.asp

Candler County
Emanuel County
Jenkins County
Johnson County
Montgomery County
Tattnall County
Toombs County
Treutlen County

Revised 10/15/2018

6

�FY2019 ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM DIRECTORY
Adult Education Program
Southern Crescent Technical College
Dr. Murray Williams, Vice President of Adult Education
501 Varsity Road
Griffin, GA 30223
Office: (770) 229-3176 or (770) 229-3178
Fax: (770) 412-4067
Email: murray.williams@sctech.edu
Website: http://www.sctech.edu/adulteducation/

Counties Served
Butts County
Fayette County
Henry County
Jasper County
Lamar County
Pike County
Spalding County
Upson County

Southern Regional Technical College
Ms. Melissa Burtle, Director of Adult Education
361 Industrial Drive
Moultrie, GA 31788
Office: (229) 217-4210
Fax: (229) 217-4211
Email: mburtle@southernregional.edu
Website: http://southernregional.edu/ged

Colquitt County
Decatur County
Early County
Grady County
Miller County
Mitchell County
Seminole County
Thomas County
Tift County
Turner County
Worth County

West Georgia Technical College
Ms. Karen Kirchler, Vice President of Adult Education
401 Adamson Square
Carrollton, GA 30117
Office: (770) 838-3192 or 1-855-500-4337
Fax: (678) 664-0540
Email: Karen.Kirchler@westgatech.edu
Website: http://www.westgatech.edu/adulted/index.htm

Carroll County
Coweta County
Douglas County
Haralson County
Heard County
Meriwether County
Troup County

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Ms. April McDuffie, Associate Vice President of Operations / Program Administrator
Mailing Address:
4089 Val Tech Road, Room 100E
Valdosta, GA 31602

Atkinson County
Ben Hill County
Berrien County
Brooks County
Coffee County
Cook County
Echols County
Irwin County
Lanier County
Lowndes County
Wilcox County

Main Location:
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
4089 Val Tech Road, Mobile Unit 7
Valdosta, GA 31602
Office: (229) 333-2123 or (229) 423-8200
Fax: (229) 259-2095
Email: April.McDuffie@wiregrass.edu
Website: http://www.wiregrass.edu/adulted

Revised 10/15/2018

7

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