The rate at which black, non-Hispanics completed high school increased markedly between 1980 and 1990, from 75 percent to 83 percent. It has fluctuated since then, and was at 81 percent in 1998. Among white, non-Hispanics, high school completion rates increased slightly, from 88 percent in 1980 to 90 percent in 1998. Their rate increased from 57 percent in 1980 to 67 percent in 1985 and then declined to 57 percent in 1991. The rate has fluctuated above 60 percent since then and was at 63 percent in 1998.
Most young adults complete high school by earning a regular high school diploma.
The proportion of young adults ages 18 to 24 who had earned an alternative credential rose 5 percentage points in 3 years, from 5 percent in 1993 to 10 percent in 1996, while the proportion earning a regular diploma decreased about 5 percentage points over the same period and continued to decline to 75 percent in 1998. This decline was particularly apparent among Hispanics, who obtained regular diplomas at a rate of 52 percent in 1998. Bullets contain references to data that can be found in Table ED4 . Additional data can be found in a related report . Youth Neither Enrolled in School Nor Working T he transition from adolescence to adulthood is a critical period in each individual's life.