Both male and female graduates on average earned more credits in core and other academic courses in 2009 than in all previous years. On average, female graduates earned more credits than male graduates in core and other academic courses in 2009.
In 2009, female graduates earned fewer average credits in other courses (i.e., not core or other academic) than in 1990, while for males the average number of credits did not change significantly from 1990.
Trend in average credits earned, by course type and gender: 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 |
|---|
| Male |
13.7 |
* |
(0.07) |
14.2 |
* |
(0.07) |
14.4 |
* |
(0.09) |
14.8 |
* |
(0.10) |
15.4 |
* |
(0.06) |
15.8 |
|
(0.06) |
|---|
| Female |
13.7 |
* |
(0.08) |
14.4 |
* |
(0.08) |
14.7 |
* |
(0.09) |
15.2 |
* |
(0.10) |
15.8 |
* |
(0.05) |
16.1 |
|
(0.05) |
|---|
| Male |
3.2 |
* |
(0.07) |
3.6 |
* |
(0.06) |
4.1 |
* |
(0.09) |
4.4 |
* |
(0.09) |
4.7 |
* |
(0.05) |
4.9 |
|
(0.05) |
|---|
| Female |
4.0 |
* |
(0.07) |
4.4 |
* |
(0.07) |
4.9 |
* |
(0.11) |
5.2 |
* |
(0.09) |
5.4 |
* |
(0.06) |
5.6 |
|
(0.06) |
|---|
| Male |
6.6 |
|
(0.11) |
6.4 |
|
(0.11) |
6.6 |
|
(0.13) |
6.8 |
* |
(0.16) |
6.5 |
|
(0.07) |
6.3 |
|
(0.10) |
|---|
| Female |
6.1 |
* |
(0.09) |
5.6 |
|
(0.09) |
5.8 |
|
(0.15) |
5.9 |
|
(0.11) |
5.8 |
|
(0.07) |
5.6 |
|
(0.09) |
|---|
* Significantly different (p<.05) from 2009.
NOTE: Core academic courses are English, mathematics, science, and social studies. Other academic courses are fine arts, foreign languages, and computer-related studies. Other courses include courses such as vocational education, personal health, and physical education.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, High School Transcript Study (HSTS), various years, 1990-2009.