1 Running head: HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS EQUALS BIG PROBLEM IN THE U.S.A.

High School Dropouts Equals Big Problem in the U.S.A. Fernandel Salomon Harvard University Extension School

2 HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS EQUALS BIG PROBLEM IN THE U.S.A. High School Dropouts Equals Big Problem in the U.S.A.

High School students dropping out of school before graduating is a big problem in the United States of America. Dropping out of high school is a big problem that can, should and ought to be addressed through policy interventions. What is dropping out? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the act of dropping out comes from the term Dropout. It defines Dropout as: a: one who drops out of school b: one who drops out of conventional society c: one who abandons an attempt, activity, or chosen path <a corporate dropout>. (Merriam-Webster. 2012) High School students in the United States are abandoning their expected path to college access, to higher education and a graduate education. I am going to show you through pertinent descriptive information such as the United States dropout statistics (within the range of year 2008 to 2011) why dropping out is a problem in and to America. I will also show you which races are most impacted and how, and how many children dropout every year. Dropping out of school has national consequences and therefore I will show you what that means for the future of America and Americas strength in the twenty-first century global economy. Finally, I will explain why dropping out necessitates policy. In America, students are expected to complete twelve years of compulsory secondary schooling also known as completing up to the twelfth grade of high school. High school consists of the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade. As a requirement for furthering education beyond high schools, students are judged by colleges on their

3 success in the four years of high school. This is not the only criterion, which is weighed; by Colleges and University/post secondary schooling, but it is one of great importance in order for a student to have competitive access to higher education. The average age for high school students are: fourteen for ninth graders to eighteen for twelfth graders. Students are legally allowed to dropout at the age of 16 in most states, thus normally into their tenth year of high school. A few states allow students to dropout at 17, and 18. Student successful access into higher/post-secondary education is only compared with their performance in the four years of high school and not prior years performance. The prior years performance and preparedness however often leaves ninth graders unprepared for high school. While there is no single reason that students drop out, difficult transitions to high school, a deficiency in basic skills (such as the ability to read and write at grade level or near it) or a lack of engagement serve as prominent barriers to graduation. Over one third of all dropouts are lost in ninth grade. (all4ed.org. 2012) During the high school years, students generally learn critical math, writing, and the sciences. Students who are dropping out miss many critical academic training. Such training is essential to their upward mobility in the American Society. Has this always been the case? No. The Alliance for Excellence in Education explains: Why is this an issue now? As we all know, in the past many students didn't finish school and still went on to do well in life. However, those days are gone. In todays global, technology-driven economy, education is the main currency. For example, by 2018, over 60 percent of jobs will require some education beyond high school. However, recent projections have estimated we will fall far short of

4 meeting this demand if we continue with our current high school and postsecondary graduation rates. (all4ed.org. 2012) The problem of dropping out stems from every state in the country, no state is immune to its disaster. If we were to look briefly at a few individual states the picture is very bleak. New York is home to one of the worlds biggest investment Stock market trading centers. This is a place where financial giants have been born, billionaires are made, and reside. New York is also home to a 28% dropout rate. Nevada is home to the some of the best casinos and hotels in the world. Las Vegas, Nevada is a world-renown destination for filmmakers, international celebrities, and all types of professionals and vacationers. Nevada is also unfortunately home to a 56% dropout rate. And lastly, in Washington D.C., the Capital of the United States, home of the Presidential White House - is also home to 42% dropout rate (according to all4ed.org). According to Boostup.org, an advocacy campaign group supported by the Ad Council a leading public service communications group the national dropout statistics is at an alarming 28%. This equals to nearly 1.3 million students who dont graduate (yearly) (Boostup.org). This means that more than one fourth of the future workforce of America, its future, will be unable to comprehend basic mathematical tasks, and basic employer needed writing skills. Everyone, every race is affected. However, the most affected of the dropouts are of Hispanics, Blacks and American Indians decent. Of the dropouts, 46% of American Indians do not graduate, 42% of Blacks do not graduate, and 43% of Hispanics teens do not graduate from high school in the U.S.A. The Alliance for Excellent Education explains:

5 We have a responsibility to provide future generations of Americans with the education and the skills needed to thrive in communities, the job market, and the global economy. Yet, too many Black and Latino young boys and men are being pushed out and locked out of the U.S. education system or find themselves unable to compete in a twenty-first-century economy upon graduating, said John H. Jackson, president and chief executive officer of the Schott Foundation. These graduation rates are not indicative of a character flaw in the young men, but rather evidence of an unconscionable level of willful neglect, unequal resource allocation by federal, state, and local entities, and the indifference of too many elected and community leaders. Its time for a support-based reform movement. (All4ed.org.2012) In the United States, White and Asian demographics are also affected by the dropout problem. 17% of Asians and 22% of White high school students are dropping out. No one race is free from this problem. In total, in 2011, more than 1 million students in the United States did not graduate high school, and thus do not hold an effective post secondary education. What does the term dropout factories signify? And are high school dropout rates divided evenly among all public high schools and school districts in America? High school dropout rates are not evenly divided among public high schools in America. In fact a key figure from The Alliance for Excellence in Education shows an extremely high probability that approximately 10% of high schools are churning in over 40% of dropouts. The Alliance for Excellent Education states:

6 About10% of All High Schools Produce More than 40% of the Nations Dropouts These high schools often referred to as dropout factories, have an extremely low promoting power of 60 percent or less, meaning that only 60 percent or fewer of freshmen progress to senior year on time. Promoting power is a good estimate of the schools graduation rate. Generally, these schools have high proportions of students of color and/or low-income students. Federally Reported High Schools10 Dropout Factories (SY 200910) (three-year average from 2008 to 2010) Nation 16,077 1,617 Nationally, students of color and Native students are nearly four times more likely than their white peers to be enrolled in a dropout factory. An additional 1,684 high schools have a promoting power of between 60 and 70 percent. (all4ed.org. 2012) So what are the futures of these teens looking like? What about the futures of the respective states in which they reside? What is the impact of the dropout problem on the United States of America? The futures of the teens who dropout are very bleak, and thus demands policy intervention. This is because: A. Not completing high school also known as a lack of a high diploma significantly impedes access to employment opportunity. It is reported by The Alliance for Excellent Education that Nationally, 81% of the fastest-growing high-wage jobs will require at least some postsecondary education (all4ed.org. 2012).

7 B. Dropping out decreases significantly the lifetime earning potential of such individuals. According to The Alliance for Excellent Education: High school dropouts face a lifetime of reduced earnings and a diminished quality of life. For example, a high school dropout's lifetime earnings are, on average, about $260,000 less than a high school graduate's. Local communities, states, and the American economy suffer from the dropout crisis as well - from lost wages, taxes, and productivity to higher costs for health care, welfare, and crime, as shown in the potential economic impacts nationally and by state. (all4ed.org. 2012) Why is it such a problem for the future of America that high school students are dropping out? On an individual level, a dropout is losing their personal potential. Professions such as a lawyer, a medical doctor, or a teacher require at least a high school diploma, and often times more. The problem of dropouts also affects the nations infrastructure. High school graduates are 8 times less likely to go to jail, according to Boostup.org. Also, graduates are seven times more likely to own a home. Also according to Boostup.org 2011 facts, high school dropouts earn two hundred and sixty thousand dollars less than their graduated peers over the course of their careers. On a national level, the country suffers greatly beyond social inequalities presented by the dropout problem. The Alliance for Excellent Education estimates that if the 1.3 million high school dropouts from the Class of 2010 had earned their diplomas instead of dropping out, the U.S. economy would have seen an additional $337 billion in wages over

8 these students' lifetimes. And that's only for one year-the country can expect to lose well over $300 billion in potential earnings next year as well, due to dropouts from the Class of 2011. If this annual pattern is allowed to continue, 13 million students will drop out of school during the next decade at a cost to the nation of more than $3 trillion (all4ed.org 2012). Dropping out of high school is a big problem that can, should and ought to be addressed through policy interventions. Why? We need policy to address the issue of high school dropouts if we truly care about the future of America. We need policy to best understand this issue, to alleviate this issue, and to potentially come to some ways to find some solutions to this very big problem. The nations poorest schools in cities across many states across the U.S. need policy intervention in order to improve their state. As stated by the Alliance for Excellent Education, While some students fall through the cracks in otherwise successful schools, more than half of the nation's dropouts are unlucky enough to attend one of the nation's 2,000 lowest-performing high schools (all4ed.org. 2012). The Best Economic Stimulus Package Is a High School Diploma. Roughly 1.2 million students did not graduate from high school in 2011; the lost lifetime earnings for that class of dropouts alone total $154 billion. If just half of the nations dropouts had graduated, they would likely have provided the following economic benefits to the nation: $19 billion in increased home sales and $741 million in increased annual auto sales 54,000 new jobs and a $9.6 billion increase in the gross domestic product

9 $713 million in increased annual state tax revenue If the nations high schools were to graduate all students ready for college, the nation would likely save as much as $5.6 billion in college remediation costs and lost earnings (all.4ed.org 2012) Finally, why does it really matter to those who care not for the education of youth in America that education policy intervention is necessary to fight back the dropout problem? The Council on Foreign Relations explains: "Educational failure puts the United States' future economic prosperity, global position, and physical safety at risk," warns the Task Force, chaired by Joel I. Klein, former head of New York City public schools, and Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. secretary of state. The country "will not be able to keep pacemuch less leadglobally unless it moves to fix the problems it has allowed to fester for too long," argues the Task Force. (cfr.org 2012) High School students dropping out of school before graduating is a big problem in the United States of America. Almost 1.3 million do not graduate. Dropping out of high school is a big problem that can, should and ought to be addressed through policy interventions because it affects Americas future in its ability as a country to compete globally. Also, the high school students are dropping out in too large of a number, and this will make too many in the country unprepared for the global twenty-first century workplace.

10 Bibliography Boostup.org. The Facts. Retrieved October 08, 2012 http://boostup.org/en Cfr.org. U.S. Education Reform and National Security. Retrieved October 9, 2012 http://www.cfr.org/united-states/us-education-reform-national-security/p27618 Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Search: Dropouts. Retrieved October 06,2012 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dropouts The Alliance for Excellence in Education. Search: Impact, United States, Students. Retrieved October 09,2012 http://www.all4ed.org/about_the_crisis/impact http://www.all4ed.org/about_the_crisis/students/grad_rates http://www.all4ed.org/files/UnitedStates_hs.pdf http://www.all4ed.org/files/Volume12No18.pdf