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Dropout Rates in the United States: 2005
NCES 2007-059
June 2007

Table A–1.  Number of 18- through 24-year-olds who received a General Educational Development (GED) certificate, by data source: 1990–2004

Year GED Service1 CPS1,2 Standard error
(CPS)
           
Event dropout rate 3.8 15–24 Percentage of
high school
students who have
dropped out of
grades 10–12 in
the past year
Indicator of the
annual rate at
which U.S. high
school students
are leaving school
with an unsuc-
cessful outcome
Students who get
an equivalency
certificate do not
count as dropouts.
Status dropout rate 9.4 16–24 Percentage of
people who are not
enrolled in high
school and who do
not have a high
school credential
Indicator of the
proportion of young
people who lack
a basic high
school education
Students who
have earned an
equivalency
credential do not
count as dropouts.
Status completion rate 87.6 18–24 Percentage of
young adults who
have left high school
and who hold a high
school credential
Indicator of the
proportion of
young adults who
have a basic high
school education
People who have
earned an
equivalency
credential count
as completers.
Averaged freshman
graduation rate
75.0 Not
applicable
Percentage of
public high school
students who
graduate with a
regular diploma
4 years after
starting 9th grade
Indicator of on-
High school
time graduation
from public schools
1 These numbers represent the total number of General Educational Development (GED) credentials earned by 18– through 24–year olds in the United States only.
2 Estimate of the number of GEDs from the Current Population Survey (CPS) may include alternative credentials other than those earned by passing the GED.
3 Reflects changes made to questions about GED receipt introduced in October 2000.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey (CPS) (1990–2004); American Council on Education, GED Testing Service. (2003–2006). Who Passed the GED Tests? Annual Statistical Report. Washington, DC: Author.; and American Council on Education, GED Testing Service. (1991–2002). Who Took the GED? GED Annual Statistical Report. Washington, DC: Author.

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