More disturbing facts about our dropout rate
From the NY Times, we learn of another study detailing the tremendous cost associated with our high school dropout rate. The latest study, conducted by researchers at Northeastern University, is another proof point in both how difficult life is for dropouts, and what a tremendous cost this imposes on our entire society. A few of the most damning statistics:
- One out of every four African-American male dropouts is incarcerated on any given day
- The unemployment rate for African-American dropouts is 69%; it’s also 54% for whites and 47% for Latinos
- The average dropout costs our nation $292,000
It’s clear why President Obama has focused his education policy on fixing our dropout factories – 12% of high schools account for 50% of our nations dropouts. It’s time that we heed his call, and do everything we can to fix our failing schools. We must identify the innovative solutions that are already solving this problem and replicate them across struggling schools and districts before we lose an entire generation to this epidemic.
