2009 ninth-graders’ education and employment outcomes in 2016

This publication provides descriptive findings from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09) Second Follow-up. HSLS:09 follows a nationally representative sample of students who were ninth-graders in fall 2009 from the beginning of high school into higher education and the workforce.  The second follow-up was conducted from March 2016 through January 2017, approximately 3 years after high school graduation for most of the cohort.  The data collected allow researchers to examine an array of young-adulthood outcomes among fall 2009 ninth-graders, including delayed high school completion, postsecondary enrollment, early postsecondary persistence and attainment, labor market experiences, family formation, and family financial support. By February 2016, some 92 percent of fall 2009 ninth-graders had earned a high school diploma, and 72 percent had enrolled in postsecondary education. Other findings include the following: Among those who had not enrolled in postsecondary education by February 2016, three-fifths had worried about having enough money for regular expenses during 2015. In addition, among those who had not enrolled in postsecondary education and were employed in February 2016, some 23 percent felt that their job was closely related and 8 percent felt their job was somewhat related to the job they expected to have at age 30. Among those who had enrolled in postsecondary education by February 2016, some 6 percent had earned an undergraduate certificate and another 6 percent had earned an associate’s degree as their highest degree by February 2016. Twenty-two percent had not attained any postsecondary credential and were no longer enrolled.