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For Immediate Release
Wednesday, March 6, 2002
Contact:Heidi B. Perlman 781-338-3106 or Jonathan Palumbo 781-338-3105

Percentage of graduates heading to college continues steady rise

MALDEN - More than 75 percent of the students who graduated in 2000 planned on attending college, a significant jump from 1980, when just 53 percent were headed to college and more than 30 percent of graduates planned on going straight to work after high school. These numbers are explained in the Department of Education's new "Plans of High School Graduates" report, released this month. "I'm pleased to see that more and more of our students are choosing to continue their education after high school," said Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll. "This report shows that over the past few decades students have clearly grown to understand the importance and value of pursuing a college degree." Among the students, 81 percent of female graduates planned to attend a two- or four-year college, compared to 68 percent of male graduates. In contrast, 19 percent of males and just 11 percent of females planned to go straight to work after graduation. In all, 31 percent planned to attend private 4-year colleges; 23 percent planned to attend public four-year colleges; 18 percent planned to attend public 2-year colleges; and 3 percent were headed to private 2-year colleges. Also, 15 percent planned to work, 3 percent planned to enter the military and 2 percent planned to attend other post-secondary schools. Post-graduate plans varied widely by racial/ethnic groups as well, but all groups reported showed increases since 1990 in the percent planning to attend college. The percent of Asians headed to college rose from 78 to 82 percent, whites rose from 66 to 76 percent, African Americans increased from 59 to 65 percent, Hispanics increased from 55 to 59 percent and Native Americans increased from 41 to 49 percent. The data for the report was collected from the Year-End School Indicator Reports, completed by high schools at the end of every school year. The full report, which details the plans of students from every high school in the state, is available on-line at the Department of Education's Web site.



Last Updated: March 6, 2002



 
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