Information Brief 2012-37
ENGAGE High School Graduation Index, Race/Ethnicity, and High School Persistence
What is the relationship between the ENGAGE High School Graduation Index, high school persistence, and race/ethnicity?
ENGAGE™ measures three broad academic behaviors—motivation, social engagement, and self-regulation—that have been linked to academic success. One feature of ENGAGE Grades 6–9 is the Graduation Index which predicts on-time high school graduation. The chart below shows the relationship between the ENGAGE Graduation Index and high school persistence for three racial/ethnic student groups. For all racial/ethnic groups, students with higher scores on the Graduation Index were more likely to persist in high school.
ENGAGE Graduation Index and High School Persistence
| Race/Ethnicity | Persistance Rate |
|---|---|
| Black | 44.55% |
| Hispanic | 64.87% |
| White | 61.35% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Persistance Rate |
|---|---|
| Black | 75.74% |
| Hispanic | 89.27% |
| White | 89.33% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Persistance Rate |
|---|---|
| Black | 100.00% |
| Hispanic | 95.08% |
| White | 97.26% |
Note: The data are from 3,077 students who participated in an ENGAGE Grades 6–9 pilot study. The sample is comprised of 11% black, 16% Hispanic, and 73% white students and may not be representative of the population.
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