Math Pathways | High School Math
Research shows that students accessing advanced math courses, such as Algebra 1 in middle school and Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate (IB)/Dual Credit math in high school, are more likely to successfully obtain a postsecondary credential and earn a living wage job. Over the past ten years, math course-taking patterns have changed significantly, and it is important to understand these changes so that we support students with appropriate advanced math pathways aligned with their career aspirations.
About this data:
E3 Alliance relies primarily on data from the University of Texas Education Research Center (ERC). This data allows for a longitudinal understanding of high school college aligned math and Algebra 2 completion based on where and when a student finishes 12th grade. This data pertains to 12th grade students who were enrolled within the state of Texas from grades 9 through 12 over four consecutive school years.
Following are items to note:
The year of the data represents the year of finishing 12th grade. Completion rates reflect whether a student completed college aligned math / Algebra 2 in Texas between 9th and 12th grades. There is a delay in data availability due to state approval within the ERC and analysis time. As such, if you choose to explore data from Central Texas, the graphs below present college aligned math / Algebra 2 completion data in the most recent available year in Texas schools.
32%
6,862 / 21,295
Central Texas
College Aligned Math Completion Rate
26%
82,527 / 312,791
Texas
College Aligned Math Completion Rate
Digging Deeper: Gender, Income, and Race Play a Role in High School College Aligned Math Completion Rates
Reviewing the latest completion data by student groups based on their gender, income, and race allows us to take a closer look at which student groups are being underserved.
In Texas for the class of 2020, Asian females from non-low-income households completed college aligned math in high school at the highest rates (74%), while Black males from low-income households completed college aligned math in high school at the lowest rates (9%).
For all racial groups, females from non-low-income households completed at the highest rates, followed by males from non-low-income households, then females from low-income households, and males from low-income households.
High School College Aligned Math Completion Rates, 2021
Digging Deeper: Gender, Income, and Race Play a Role in High School Algebra 2 Completion Rates
Reviewing the latest completion data by student groups based on their gender, income, and race allows us to take a closer look at which student groups are being underserved.
In Texas for the class of 2020, Asian females from non-low-income households completed Algebra 2 in high school at the highest rates (96%), while white males from low-income households completed Algebra 2 in high school at the lowest rates (84%).
For all racial groups, females from non-low-income households completed at the highest rates, and males from low-income households completed at the lowest rates.
High School Algebra 2 Completion Rates, 2021
High School College Aligned Math Completion Varies by Race
High school college aligned math completion patterns in Texas show racial disparities that point to the need for systemic change around opportunities, access, and support.
For the Texas class of 2020, education systems are completing Asian students in college aligned math in high school at a rate of almost ten times more than Black students (Asian - 65%, Black - 16%).
Use the comparison feature to look at disparities in enrollment in your region. Are disparities larger or smaller than the state?
High School Algebra 2 Completion Varies by Race
High school Algebra 2 completion patterns in Texas show racial disparities that point to the need for systemic change around opportunities, access, and support.
For the Texas class of 2020, education systems are completing Asian students in Algebra 2 in high school at a rate of over two times more than Black students (Asian - 95%, Black - 90%).
Look at disparities in persistence in your region by using the comparison feature. Are disparities larger or smaller in your region as compared to the state?
Disparities Exist in High School College Aligned Math Completion by Household Income
Household income disparities in high school college aligned math completion rates exist in Texas. More students from non-low-income households complete college aligned math in high school than students from low-income households.
In Texas, for the class of 2020, about 2 in 10 students from low-income households completed college aligned math in high school, compared to almost 4 in 10 students from non-low-income households.
Compare your region to the state by using the comparison feature. Are there greater or lesser disparities in your region?
Disparities Exist in High School Algebra 2 Completion by Household Income
Household income disparities in high school Algebra 2 completion rates exist in Texas. More students from non-low-income households complete Algebra 2 in high school than students from low-income households.
In Texas, for the class of 2020, 90% of students from low-income households completed Algebra 2 in high school, compared to 94% of students from non-low-income households.
Use the comparison feature to compare your region to the state. Are there greater or lesser disparities in your region?
Economic Status
Ethnicity
Gender
Compare your District and Campuses to Others Using the Scatterplots Below
Use the first scatterplot below to compare your district to other districts in the region. You can use toggles and selections to look at specific demographic groups, and bright-spot districts. You can also toggle on size indicators and charter districts.
Use the second scatterplot below to compare campuses in your district to other campuses in the region. You can use toggles and selections to look at specific demographic groups, and bright-spot campuses. You can also toggle on size indicators and charter schools within your district.
Gauging your district against your peers can help you benchmark your performance against other similar districts and campuses. You may be surprised to see which districts and campuses perform well for specific demographic groups.
Economic Status
Ethnicity
Gender
High School College Aligned Math Completion Increasing in Last Decade
Texas has seen an overall upward trend in high school college aligned math completion rates for the past ten years.
In Texas overall, completion rates increased from 18% of the class of 2010 to 27% of the class of 2020.
See how the trend in your region compares to the state at large by using the comparison feature.
High School Algebra 2 Completion Has Been Increasing Since 2010 but Progress is Stalling
Texas has seen an overall upward trend in high school Algebra 2 completion rates for the past ten years, but rates have stayed relatively flat since 2014.
In Texas overall, completion rates increased from 89% of the class of 2010 to 92% of the class of 2020.
Use the comparison feature to see how the trend in your region compares to the state.
 Disparities in High School College Aligned Math Completion by Household Income Have Not Decreased in Texas
 Disparities in Texas continue in high school college aligned math completion rates for students from low-income households as compared to students from non-low-income households. Even as completion rates have increased for both groups over the past ten years, this disparity persists.
For students from low-income households, high school college aligned math completion rates increased from 10% for the class of 2010 to 20% for the class of 2020.
For students from non-low-income households, completion rates increased from 25% for the class of 2010 to 37% for the class of 2020.
Use the comparison feature to view the trend in your region as compared to the state. Is the trend moving in the same direction? Are the disparities increasing, decreasing, or remaining the same over time?