Children And Education

Decreasing


High School Graduates by Post-Graduation Plan, 2021

What does this measure?

The self-reported post-graduation plans of high school graduates as reported to the state.

Why is this important?

Higher education is associated with greater earnings and standard of living. Post-graduate plans are also an indirect measure of the educational strength of the region's schools.

How does our county compare?

In 2021 55% of high school graduates in Lancaster County planned to attend a 2- or 4-year college or university, a decrease of 8 percentage points from 2008. The Lancaster rate in 2021 was lower than the state rate of 59%, which saw a decrease of 10 percentage points (69% to 59% in that same time period).

Lancaster County's 2- or 4-year college going rate was below Chester (72%) and Cumberland (64%), the same as York (55%), and slightly higher than Berks and Dauphin (both 53%) and Lebanon (52%).

Notes about the data

The plans of a high school graduate may not come to fruition for many reasons, including finances, lack of admission opportunities, or a change of plans between the time of reporting and enrollment. For purposes of the listed reports, a high school graduate is a student who has received a diploma. Students earning high school credentials by obtaining a General Educational Development (GED) diploma are not considered graduates for the purpose of the data as reported by the state of Pennsylvania.

High School Graduates by Post-Graduation Plan, 2021
2 or 4 Year CollegeNon-Degree Granting SchoolOtherSpecialized Associate Degree Program
Pennsylvania59%2%37%2%
Lancaster County55%2%40%3%
York County55%2%41%2%
Berks County53%2%44%1%
Lebanon County52%2%45%1%
Dauphin County53%4%42%1%
Chester County72%3%24%1%
Cumberland County64%1%34%1%

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Education




Number of High School Graduates by Post-Graduation Plan, 2021
2 or 4 Year CollegeNon-Degree Granting SchoolOtherSpecialized Associate Degree Program
Pennsylvania73,2612,76645,4561,924
Lancaster County2,620951,922162
York County2,676982,012103
Berks County2,563862,10254
Lebanon County683325958
Dauphin County1,8921491,52529
Chester County5,2091871,779108
Cumberland County1,3821573617

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Education




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