This paper uses data from the Texas Education Research Center to compare high school graduates who make successful transitions into the labor market and postsecondary education with high school graduates who fail to make a successful transition. The purpose of this research is to identify factors related to successful high school graduate transitions for two cohorts of Texas high school graduates—the classes of 2008 and 2009—who completed high school during the Great Recession. Specifically, this research studies the mediating effects of regional variables and examines the extent to which previously identified factors related to college and workforce transitions differ depending on the location from which a Texas student graduates high school. From a data analysis, standpoint, the paper asks whether utilizing data from different sources reveals different analytical results for postsecondary outcomes research and if so, how?

The authors find that factors related to postsecondary transitions differed significantly based on geographic location.  Given that most analyses are conducted at the state-wide level, important sub-state differences in postsecondary education access, persistence, and completion are often masked.  The paper presents findings based on a comparison of student outcomes in various geographic regions, including analyses at the Workforce Investment Board, Education Service Center, and Council of Government levels.  The authors also identify Texas regions where specific types of supports could increase the rate of successful transitions, leading to improved educational and workforce outcomes for high school graduates.

The authors find that postsecondary outcomes findings differed significantly based on the data source used.  The paper provides a comparison of outcomes and related factors using two different postsecondary education datasets, one from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the other from the National Student Clearinghouse.