According to an Austin Independent School District study, the percentage of Austin high school graduates going to college has increased from 55% in 2002 to 62.6% in 2006. The study took a comprehensive look at who is going to college and what type of school they are attending. In 2006, 38% of the students moved right into a four-year college – up from 32% in 2002 – and around 23% went to Austin Community College.

The study also broke the graduates down by ethnic group, and found a troubling gap. Although 76% of white graduates went on to college, only 46% of Hispanic graduates and 57% of African American graduates did the same, and economically disadvantaged graduates fared the worst – only 43% went on to higher education. The full report is available online at AISD’s website.

This article appears in August 10 • 2007.

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