Older Blacks closing high school graduation gap

Jet, June 2, 1997

Many Blacks who quit high school are completing it by their late 20s, which has caused the Black-White graduation gap to narrow, according to data.

Blacks and Whites aged 25-29 had almost the same rate of high school completion, which was 87 percent in 1995, according to data from the American Council on Education. However, among those aged 18 to 24, the gap was wider.

The report said the gap may have closed when the people got older because of the greater number of Black people finishing high school requirements later in life through, equivalency examinations. About 10 years ealier, Blacks had an 81 percent graduation rate, compared with 87 percent for Whites.

However, the council's analysis of census data showed that Blacks and Hispanics finish college at a far lower rate than Whites, and the rate of enrollment increases is slowing.

The council is an umbrella group for colleges, universities and educational associations.

The council included the figures in its 15th annual report on minorities in higher education.