Status dropout rates for Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics ages 16–24 have each generally declined between 1972 and 2006. Over this time period, status dropout rates for Whites remained lower than rates for Hispanics and Blacks.

The status dropout rate represents the percentage of persons in an age group who are not enrolled in school and have not earned a high school diploma or equivalent credential, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. For this indicator, status dropout rates are reported for 16- through 24-year-olds. The status dropout rate for this age group declined from 15 percent in 1972 to 9 percent in 2006 (see table 23-1). A decline was also seen between 2000 and 2006, the more recent years of this time span (11 to 9 percent).

Status dropout rates and changes in these rates over time differ by race/ethnicity. In general, the status dropout rates for Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics each declined between 1972 and 2006. However, for each year between 1972 and 2006, the status dropout rate was lowest for Whites and highest for Hispanics. For example, in 2006, the status dropout rate for Whites was 6 percent, compared with 11 percent for Blacks and 22 percent for Hispanics. Although the gaps between the rates of Blacks and Whites and between the rates of Hispanics and Whites have decreased, the patterns have not been consistent. The Black-White gap narrowed during the 1980s, with no measurable change during the 1970s or between 1990 and 2006. In contrast, the Hispanic-White gap narrowed between 1990 and 2006, with no measurable change in the gap during the 1970s and 1980s.

In 2006, Hispanics who were born outside of the United States¹ represented 7 percent of the 16- through 24-year-old population and 28 percent of all status dropouts in this age group (see table 23-2). Higher dropout rates among these Hispanic immigrants partially account for the persistently high dropout rates for all Hispanic young adults. Among Hispanic 16- through 24-year-olds who were born outside the United States, the status dropout rate was 36 percent in 2006—triple the rates for both first-generation and second-generation or higher Hispanics in this age group (12 percent each). Yet, regardless of immigration status, greater percentages of Hispanics born in the United States were status dropouts than their non-Hispanic counterparts.

¹ The United States refers to the 50 states and the District of Columbia. (back to text)