Cohort Comparisons of Experiences by High School Completion Status

Post-high school outcomes of high school completers (those who graduated, received a certificate of attendance or completion, or who passed a high school exit exam or completed a GED program) were more likely to differ significantly between 1990 and 2005 than were those who left high school without finishing.

• Across the various types of postsecondary programs, high school completers consistently evidenced significantly higher rates of having ever enrolled in postsecondary school in 2005 than in 1990. The rate of ever having enrolled in a postsecondary program for high school completers was 16 percentage points higher in 2005 compared with 1990 (51 percent vs. 34 percent).
• High school completers were more likely to receive health insurance from their employer in 1990 than 2005 (62 percent vs. 39 percent, 24 percentage-point difference) and were more likely to receive vacation or sick leave benefits in 1990 than 2005 (57 percent vs. 32 percent, 25 percentage-point difference).
• High school completers evidenced significantly higher rates of engagement in 2005 than in 1990 (88 percent vs. 75 percent, 14 percentage-point difference).
• High school completers were more likely to have a checking account in 2005 than in 1990 (52 percent vs. 32 percent, 20 percentage-point difference).
• Rates of volunteerism were significantly higher in 2005 than in 1990 for high school completers (29 percent vs. 14 percent, 15 percentage points).
• The likelihood of youth with disabilities either belonging to an extracurricular community group or volunteering was higher in 2005 than 1990 for high school completers (48 percent vs. 31 percent, 17 percentage points).
• High school completers demonstrated a higher voter registration rate in 2005 than in 1990 (72 percent vs. 57 percent, 15 percentage points).
• Higher rates of ever having been arrested were reported for high school completers in 2005 than in 1990 (23 percent vs. 10 percent, 13 percentage points).