Academic Attrition in Black and White: The Emergence of the Black/White Gap in Timely High School Graduation

Ervin (Maliq) Matthew, University of Cincinnati
Jeffrey M. Timberlake, University of Cincinnati

This paper examines the relationship between race and failure to remain on an on-time trajectory for high school graduation. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth Children and Young Adult Survey (also called Children of the NLSY), we will construct an academic life table to assess variance in timeliness of progress through the academic career. Assuming that our life table analysis reveals racial differences in rates of timely completion attrition, we will then use survival analysis to test the effects of potential predictors of racial variance in likelihood of falling off-pace for timely high school graduation.