The Structure Whisperer

College Enrollment and Work Activity of 2009 High School Graduates

Many thanks to Ellen P. from the 3:30 Introduction to Sociology class for acting as “Google jockey” and researching this tidbit in class on Tuesday (9/7).

In October 2009, 70.1 percent of 2009 high school graduates were enrolled in
colleges or universities, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
This was a historical high for the series, which began in 1959. Recent high
school graduates not enrolled in college in October 2009 were more likely than
enrolled graduates to be in the labor force (70.0 compared with 42.1 percent).

Information on school enrollment and work activity is collected monthly in the
Current Population Survey (CPS), a nationwide survey of about 60,000 households
that provides information on employment and unemployment. Each October, a sup-
plement to the CPS gathers more detailed information on full-time and part-time
school enrollment status, level of education, and enrollment status a year ear-
lier. Additional information about the October supplement is included in the
Technical Note.

Recent High School Graduates and Dropouts

Of the 2.9 million youth age 16 to 24 who graduated from high school in January
through October 2009, 2.1 million (70.1 percent) were enrolled in college in
October 2009. The college enrollment rate of recent high school graduates has
been trending up; in October 2008, 68.6 percent of recent high school graduates
were enrolled in college. For 2009 graduates, the college enrollment rate was
73.8 percent for young women and 66.0 percent for young men. The college en-
rollment rate of 2009 Asian graduates (92.2 percent) was higher than for recent
white (69.2 percent), black (68.7 percent), and Hispanic (59.3 percent) graduates.

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