A baby boom in 2007 resulted in a record-breaking 4.3 million births in the U.S. Now, as seniors, the class of 2025 is projected to be the nation’s largest and most ethnically diverse graduating high school class.
According to Inside Higher Ed, students from non-white backgrounds will only continue to make up a growing portion of graduating classes in the United States. In 2019, for example, 25 percent of graduates were reported as Hispanics. By 2025, 28 percent of high school graduates are expected to be Hispanic, a 3% increase. It is estimated to grow in the coming years.
“What I’ve seen in the last four years is that we’re becoming more and more accepting of diversity,” Graduation Specialist Tod Oney said. “Students are embracing it more than they did four years ago, and I think that will be a continuing trend.”
Around 70% of high school graduates in the class of 2025 are expected to go on and become first-time freshmen in either a two- or four-year college based on predictions from the Pew Research Center.
But birth rates dropped after the 2008 recession, resulting in 2.3 million fewer births in the following 5 years according to the Carsey School of Public Policy. Although the record high number of high school graduates is expected to peak with the class of 2025 at around 3.4 million students – or higher – the following drop in births indicates an estimated dip on the horizon.
“After this school year, something called an enrollment cliff will likely occur, which is where numbers start dropping,” College and Career Specialist Rebecca Wachtman said.
Though the exact number of students applying to college this year is uncertain, the sheer diversity and size of the class could have implications on selectivity and competitiveness.
While time will have to tell, the Pew Research Center states that generally, the number of first-time, full-time college freshmen tracks closely with the number of births from 2007.
Besides the size and diversity, Liberty staff members have noticed some defining characteristics of the class of 2025.
“Liberty’s seniors have built up lots of perseverance. They have the ability to try and not give up; they have grit,” English teacher John Crowley said.
As a Liberty teacher of 10 years, Crowley has seen student trends throughout the years.
“They’re willing to look at things differently and be more accepting,” Oney said.
Crowley has some words of wisdom for seniors after they put on their cap and gown to walk across the stage and get their diplomas.
“Get out in the world and talk to people. Have meaningful conversations,” Crowley said. “It may be difficult to know now, but time is fleeting.”
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