PDFAcademic Proficiency
Proficiency or above in reading was demonstrated by 30% of 8th graders (33% in New York) in 2009 [1]. That same year, proficiency or above in mathematics was demonstrated by 33% of 8th graders and in writing by 31% [2, 3].The percentage of high school students completing advanced academic courses steadily increased between 1982 and 2004, and appeared to level off or decline slightly in 2005. Half of students who graduated in 2005 completed an advanced math course (above Algebra II), 63% had taken an advanced science course, and 31% had taken honors-level English courses [4].
Middle school students (48% of 8th graders) are more likely to be involved in music and performing arts in school than are high school students (37% 10th graders, 41% 12th graders; 2008 data) [5].
Completing School
In 2009, of youth age 15-19 years, 94% were either enrolled in school or were part of the labor force [6]. In 2008, 90% of young adults (18-24 years old, excluding those currently enrolled in school) had completed high school [7].Dropout rates are measured as percentages of the non-institutionalized, civilian population of young people, and thus do not reflect incarceration and military service. According to Child Trends [8], in 2008, of the civilian, non-institutionalized population of youth age 16 to 24 the overall dropout rate was 8%, and:
- Hispanic youth were the most likely to drop out of school. Eighteen percent of Hispanics age 16-24 were not enrolled or did not complete high school, versus the 10% of black non-Hispanic students and 5% of white non-Hispanic students who dropped out.
- Males accounted for 53% of those who dropped out of high school, females accounted for 47%.
Endnotes
| [1] |
Annie E. Case Foundation. (n.d.). Kids Count Data Center: Data Across States: 8th grade reading - 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2010, from
datacenter.kidscount.org/data/acrossstates/Rankings.aspx?ind=5117 |
| [2] |
Annie E. Case Foundation. (n.d.). Kids Count Data Center: Data Across States: 8th grade math - 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2010, from
datacenter.kidscount.org/data/acrossstates/Rankings.aspx?ind=5119 |
| [3] |
Annie E. Case Foundation. (n.d.). Kids Count Data Center: Data Across States: 8th grade writing - 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2010, from
datacenter.kidscount.org/data/acrossstates/Rankings.aspx?ind=5124 |
| [4] |
Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. (2007). America's children in brief: Key national indicators of well-being, 2010, 21. Retrieved October 4, 2010, from
childstats.gov/pdf/ac2010/ac_10.pdf (PDF: 2.2M) |
| [5] |
Child Trends. (2010). Participation in school music or other performing arts. Retrieved October 4, 2010, from
childtrendsdatabank.org/?q=node/152 |
| [6] |
U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.). 2009 American community survey - Teenagers' characteristics. Retrieved October 4, 2010, from
factfinder.census.gov/servlet/STTable?_bm=y&-qr_name=ACS_2009_1YR _G00_S0902&-geo_id=01000US&-ds_name=ACS_2009_1YR_G00_&-_lang=en&- redoLog=false |
| [7] |
Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. (2010). America's children: Key national indicators of well-being, 2010: Education. Retrieved July 26, 2010, from
childstats.gov/americaschildren/edu.asp |
| [8] |
Child Trends DataBank. (n.d.). High school dropout rates. Retrieved October 4, 2010, from
childtrendsdatabank.org/?q=node/300 |