In 2009, high school graduates earned an average of 3 credits more than in 1990. In 2009, graduates earned 27.2 credits, up from 23.6 in 1990. Each credit represents 120 hours of classroom instruction.
Trend in average credits earned: 1990-2009
| 1990 |
1994 |
1998 |
2000 |
2005 |
2009 |
| Average credits earned |
Standard error |
Average credits earned |
Standard error |
Average credits earned |
Standard error |
Average credits earned |
Standard error |
Average credits earned |
Standard error |
Average credits earned |
Standard error |
|---|
Total credits
earned |
23.6 |
* |
(0.12) |
24.3 |
* |
(0.14) |
25.3 |
* |
(0.17) |
26.2 |
* |
(0.20) |
26.8 |
* |
(0.09) |
27.2 |
|
(0.10) |
|---|
* Significantly different (p<.05) from 2009.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, High School Transcript Study (HSTS), various years, 1990-2009.