Institutional Racism

fairly constant since 1990. The percentage of Hispanics who were status dropouts has
remained higher than that of blacks and whites in every year since 1970. Even though
Hispanics represented approximately the same percentage of the young adult
population as did blacks, Hispanics were disproportionately represented among status
dropouts in 2001.
Also in 2001, the status dropout rate for Asians/Pacific Islanders ages 16–24 was lower
than for any other 16- through 24-year-olds. Specifically, the status rate for
Asians/Pacific Islanders was 3.6%, compared with 27.0% for Hispanics, 20.9% for
blacks, and 7.3% for whites.
2001 Status Dropout Rates: 16- to 24-year-olds by Race
Status Dropout Rate
Asian/Pacific Islander 3.6%
White 7.3%
Black 20.9%
Hispanic 27.0%
High School Completion Rates
Status completion rates measure the percentage of a given population that has a high
school credential, regardless of when the credential was earned. In 2001, 86.5% of 18-
through 24-year-olds not enrolled in elementary or secondary school had completed
high school. Status completion rates increased from 82.8% in 1972 to 85.6% in 1990.
Since 1991, the rate has shown no consistent trend and has fluctuated between 84.8%
and 86.5%. High school status completion rates for white and black young adults
increased between the early 1970s and 1990 but has remained relatively the same
since 1990.
Specifically, status completion rates for white students increased from 86.0% in 1972 to
89.6% in 1990. Since 1990, white completion rates have remained in the range of 89.4–
91.8%. In 2001, 91.0% of white and 85.6% of black 18- through 24-year-olds had
completed high school. The percentage of black students completing high school rose
from 72.1% in 1972 to 85.6% in 2001. The gap between black and white completion
rates narrowed between 1972 and 2001.
In 2001, 65.7% of all Hispanic 18- through 24-year- olds completed high school. This
percentage compares to 91.0% of whites, 85.6% of blacks, and 96.1% of Asians/Pacific
Islanders. Essentially, in 2001, whites and Asians/Pacific Islanders were more likely
than their black and Hispanic peers to have completed high school. Also, whites
completed high school at a higher rate than both blacks and Hispanic students. Black
students completed high school at a higher rate than Hispanics.
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