| Characteristic | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total completing high schoolb | 83.9 | 83.8 | 83.8 | 83.9 | 84.7 | 85.4 | 85.5 | 84.7 | 84.5 | 84.7 | 85.6 | 84.9 | 86.4 | 86.2 | 85.8 | 85.3 | 86.2 | 85.9 | 84.8 | 85.9 | 86.5 | 86.5 | 86.6 | 87.1 | 86.9 | 87.6 | 87.8 |
| Method of completion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diploma | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 80.3 | 80.5 | 80.6 | 80.7 | 81.2 | 81.2 | 78.8 | 77.5 | 76.5 | 76.7 | 74.7 | 76.8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Equivalent | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 7.0 | 7.7 | 9.8 | 9.1 | 10.1 | 9.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| White, non-Hispanicc | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total completing high schoolb | 87.5 | 87.1 | 87.0 | 87.4 | 87.5 | 88.2 | 88.8 | 87.7 | 88.7 | 89.0 | 89.6 | 89.4 | 90.7 | 90.1 | 90.7 | 89.8 | 91.5 | 90.5 | 90.2 | 91.2 | 91.8 | 91.1 | 91.8 | 91.9 | 91.7 | 92.3 | 92.6 |
| Method of completion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diploma | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 84.0 | 85.0 | 85.0 | 85.0 | 86.0 | 86.0 | 84.0 | 83.0 | 81.0 | 81.0 | 80.0 | 82.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Equivalent | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 9.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Black, non-Hispanicc | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total completing high schoolb | 75.2 | 76.7 | 76.4 | 76.8 | 80.3 | 81.0 | 81.8 | 81.9 | 80.9 | 81.9 | 83.2 | 82.5 | 82.0 | 81.9 | 83.3 | 84.5 | 83.0 | 82.0 | 81.4 | 83.5 | 83.7 | 85.7 | 84.7 | 85.0 | 83.5 | 86.0 | 84.9 |
| Method of completion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diploma | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 76.0 | 77.0 | 78.0 | 77.0 | 76.0 | 76.0 | 75.0 | 75.0 | 73.0 | 72.0 | 72.0 | 73.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Equivalent | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 11.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| American Indian and Alaska Nativec | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total completing high schoolb | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 82.4 | 82.9 | 80.3 | 78.4 | 76.7 | 80.4 | 81.6 |
| Method of completion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diploma | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Equivalent | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Asian/Pacific Islanderc | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total completing high schoolb | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 94.6 | 96.1 | 95.7 | 94.9 | 95.1 | 95.8 | 95.8 |
| Method of completion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diploma | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Equivalent | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Two or more racesc | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total completing high schoolb | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 91.7 | 93.1 | 89.5 | 89.7 |
| Method of completion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diploma | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Equivalent | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hispanicc | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total completing high schoolb | 57.1 | 59.1 | 60.9 | 59.4 | 63.7 | 66.6 | 63.5 | 65.1 | 58.2 | 59.4 | 59.1 | 56.5 | 62.1 | 64.4 | 62.8 | 62.8 | 61.9 | 66.7 | 62.8 | 63.4 | 64.1 | 65.7 | 67.3 | 69.2 | 69.9 | 70.3 | 70.9 |
| Method of completion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diploma | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 54.0 | 55.0 | 55.0 | 53.0 | 57.0 | 58.0 | 54.0 | 54.0 | 55.0 | 59.0 | 52.0 | 55.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Equivalent | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 11.0 | 9.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| — Not available. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| a Excludes those enrolled in high school or below. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| b From 1980 to 1991, high school completion was measured as completing 4 years of high school rather than the actual attainment of a high school diploma or equivalent. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| c For data through 2002, the 1977 OMB Standards for Data on Race and Ethnicity were used to classify persons into one of the following four racial groups: White, Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander. For data beginning in 2003, the revised 1997 OMB standards were used. Persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. From 2003 onward, people who responded to the question on race indicated only one race unless otherwise specified. Data from 2003 onward are not directly comparable with data from earlier years. For all years, data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Data for 1994 and subsequent years are not strictly comparable with data for 1980–1993, because of revisions in the Current Population Survey questionnaire and data collection methodology. Method of high school completion is not reported for 2000 and subsequent years because of changes in General Education Development (GED) items in the October 2001 CPS School Enrollment Supplement, making the 2001 data not comparable to previous years. Diploma equivalents include alternative credentials obtained by passing exams such as the General Educational Development (GED) test. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, October Supplement (1980–2005). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
