Fewer than one in five Fort Worth students earn a college degree within six years of graduating from high school, according to a new study.
The High School and Beyond Report, released by the Fort Worth Education Partnership, followed nearly 30,000 students who were in eighth grade between 2011 and 2013. Researchers tracked their progress through high school and into higher education.
The findings show that 78% of students graduated from high school within six years. Of those, 58% enrolled in Texas colleges, and 9% attended schools outside the state. Most began at community colleges. Twenty-seven percent of the original group enrolled in two-year institutions, while 18% started at four-year universities.
Despite high enrollment interest, degree completion rates remain low. Six years after graduation, only 14% of students had earned a bachelor’s degree, and 5% had earned an associate’s degree. Another 147 students earned certificates.
The report warns that without a credential, students face only a 12% chance of earning a living wage. In Tarrant County, a single adult must earn at least $48,200 annually to cover basic expenses. A family of four with two working parents requires $108,600.
The economic premium for higher education remains high.
In Texas, bachelor’s degree holders are four times more likely to earn a living wage than those with only a high school diploma. Associate’s degree holders are nearly twice as likely. The median bachelor’s degree holder earns $32,000 more annually than workers with only a high school diploma.
The report also found wide disparities across Fort Worth City Council districts. Bachelor’s degree completion ranged from 6% in District 5 and District 11 to 23% in District 4 and District 10.
Fort Worth ISD has seen some improvement, but challenges remain.
The district’s accountability rating rose slightly in the latest Texas Education Agency report, holding at a C. Its Student Achievement score, however, has stayed in the D range for three consecutive years. The lack of stronger progress has fueled questions about whether the district can avoid a state takeover.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath warned district leaders in May that the Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade had failed to meet standards for five straight years, a trigger for state intervention.
By 2031, two-thirds of jobs paying a living wage will require at least a bachelor’s degree. The findings underscore the need for stronger educational pipelines in North Texas.
Brent Beasley, president of the Fort Worth Education Partnership, stated that the results pose a challenge for the entire community: “The low number of Fort Worth young adults who are attaining a two- or four-year degree represents a civic and a moral crisis.”
The report urges local leaders to ensure that students are prepared in K-12 schools to succeed beyond graduation and achieve economic stability.