How High School Dropouts Affect American Society Essay

In today’s society it has become even more crucial to obtain knowledge and graduate from high school. In the article “The True Cost of High School Dropouts” Henry M. Levin and Cecilia E. Rouse explain that the dropout rate imposes a heavy cost on the economy. Henry M. Levin is a professor of economics and education at Columbia University. Cecilia E. Rouse is a professor of economics and public affairs at Princeton University. She also was a member of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers from 2009 to 2011. This article was found on “The New York Times” and was published Jan. 25th, 2012. They begin with stating the facts and giving sources to build credibility. They then go into what is being done wrong and what needs to be done in order to improve.

In a society which is relying increasingly on education, graduating high school is quickly becoming an important accolade to ensure a student’s success in society. According to a study completed in July of 2011, high school dropouts cost between $320 billion and $350 billion annually in lost wages, taxable income, health, welfare and incarceration costs. (Zhao, 2011) As well as the financial impact, there are many other aspects that should be addressed when looking at high school dropout rates. The most prevalent example is the fact that systematically, the education system has shown significant signs of unbalance in the distribution of dropout rates across different races and or ethnicities. In 2009, 4.8 percent of of blacks and 5.8 percent of Hispanics between 15 and 24 dropped out of grades 10-12, compared with 2.4 percent for white students. (Zhao, 2011) With statistics like this, it is important that we not only ensure our education system is operating in a successful way, but also providing equal education and opportunities for students of all races, ethnicities, income levels, and religious backgrounds. By examining our education system, we as educators will be able to address and hopefully resolve the issues related to the unequal dropout rates in high schools across the nation.

The current situation of high school students dropping out has been steadily declining since the early 1990’s. This could serve society very well if that trend continues to a point where dropping out of high school become relatively unheard of. A social dysfunction of high school is that it creates a class system between those with a high school diploma and those without one. The manifest function of high school is to provide people with the skills and critical thinking ability to obtain some type base level skilled work as well as provides a way to help keep kids safe and out of trouble. In contrast, a high school dropout would have none of those functions and would likely not be employed in skilled work and as a result might have to turn to criminal activities for an income.

In October 2000, the overall picture of high school dropouts had changed little since the late 1980s (Kaufman et al. 2001): For every 100 young adults enrolled in high school in October 1999, 5 had left school without completing a program; of 34.6 million U.S. young adults aged 16-24, 3.8 million—almost 11 percent—had not completed high school and were not enrolled. Some studies have shown that students in schools with a concentration of multiple risk factors (e.g., large schools, large classes, high poverty, inner city location) have less than one chance in two of graduating from high school; furthermore, the economic costs of dropping out have increased as time goes on (Castellano et al. 2001). Adjusting for 50

“Dropping out of school does not seem to happen overnight; it comes after a long term process of frustration and failure” (Balfanz par 2). According to the National Center for Education Statistics, The population studied students attending Baltimore schools and gathered research that indicates how low test scores and report card grades as early as the 1st grade are reliable sources of whether students would later drop out(Alexander, Entwisle and Kabbani par.6). Also having to go through grade retention as early as kindergarten is also connected to why the dropout rate has reached a dynamic level (Kaufman and Bradby par.6). Whoever decides to drops out has no type of support, encouragement, or ambition starting at such a young age.

$10,510, that’s how much less a high school dropout earns annually than an individual with a high school diploma according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A dropout is less likely to be employed, more likely to be incarcerated and more likely to live in poverty. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, due to incarceration, less paid in taxes and other factors a high school dropout costs taxpayers $292,000 over their lifetime. The financial costs alone should be enough to find ways to increase graduation rates. Research has shown early predictors of dropout are parental education level and early low literacy in the child. Families from one generation to another have a difficult time escaping poverty and families from one generation to another have difficulty improving literacy

Across the United States, high school students can encounter a variety of issues that hinder their ability to successfully complete course work to earn the required credits towards graduation. High schools across the United States have an obligation to ensure that students are achieving and receiving a diploma. It is also in the school’s best interest to ensure students are gradating both funding wise and for the overall school rating. When a student does not receive a high school diploma the action affects the student, community and the school. High school dropouts may find it harder to obtain a job that would provide a stable and productive income verses a high school graduate thus, the financial disadvantage in turn can cause

In the documentary Guggenheim says that “In America right now, a kid drops out of high school every 26 seconds. These drop-outs are eight times more likely to go to prison, 50% less likely to vote, more likely to need social welfare assistance, not eligible for 90% of jobs, are being paid 40 cents to the dollar of earned by a college graduate, and continuing the cycle of poverty” (Waiting for "Superman"). This means in 10 minutes about 20 students drop out of high school. With this statistic Guggenheim easily is able to show the seriousness of this issue. After dropping out of high school, a student pretty much suffers their entire life.

High school dropouts are not only facing a miserable situation in the rest of lives but also

Derek Bok, the former president of Harvard University, famously said "if you think education is expensive, try ignorance". Despite the significant advances we have made in the last hundred years, and even in the last decade, there remains an endless list of problems with our public education systems. In fact, even though the U.S. have some of the best higher education institutions in the world, we nonetheless consistently failed to be recognized as a true leader in public education at the K-12 level. Take this statistic for example: between 1990 and 2010, the high school dropout rate only fell by 3%, from 12.1% to 7.4%. Put simply, over the two decades on average 1.2 million students (7,000/day) dropped out of high school. While these numbers have improved in the last five years, many students—especially those of color in urban areas—are still consistently facing a significant roadblock to high school graduation: school absences due to suspensions.

Did you know that 1.2 million high school students drop out of school every year just in the United States alone (11 Facts)? The decrease of high school graduation rates is a fairly important issue, and there are plenty of reasons to propose a change. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the current standard dropout rate of high school students is 7.4%. High school dropouts encounter way more difficulties and challenges than a high school graduate would. An average high school drop out lacks the basic education that one needs in order to be successful in life. They are more likely to face problems dealing with financial insecurity, communication skills, and of course, educational matters. With a high school diploma, one is more likely to get hired for a job, earn a higher income, and educate oneself even further. Some possible causes of high school students dropping out include stress, boredom, family problems, pregnancies, and drugs. With that said, with every issue, there is always a solution. By taking the problem at hand and looking at it from a broad perspective, we can thoroughly identify the source of the high dropout rates of U.S. high school students. There are countless factors that may be the cause of this epidemic, but a few ideas including making learning more relevant, limiting the workload given to students, and providing mandatory classes on drugs and safe sex may possibly be a solution to this

    In the United States, there are a great amount of people who never got their high school diploma; a great percentage of these dropouts ended up living in poverty. According to Carmen DeNavas-Walt ,an employee in The United States Census Bureau, “In 2015, 26.3 percent (6.2 million) of people aged 25 and older without a high school diploma were in poverty” (DeNavas-Walt,2016). According to proffesor Rusell W. Rumberger, people who never completed their

The number of high school dropouts is ever decreasing due to the increase in competitiveness in all job markets. Without at least a high school diploma or equivalent, a person is rarely going to be hired over someone with the required credentials. Many entry-level employers (that pay tax to the government and are filed properly) will require a high school diploma or equivalent. The reason for this is that the standard education that is required is there for a reason. Standard public schools are designed to teach students basic societal needs like being literate and being able to do mathematics. This is why the employer would want these credentials. Although not very impressive, it is the bare minimum to the government, and therefore the minimum for most entry level

“Research shows dropping out is strongly tied to socioeconomic status.” (Gould and Weller, businessinsider.com). State demographer said: “Three out of every 10 workers will not have a high school diploma in 2040…”, that is 30%, and within 24 years 8% of every high school senior class will not be receiving a high school diploma. Luckily now there is new programs that allow people to finish their education, and in addition to that there are programs within high schools that work hand in hand with community colleges to receive a vocational type of degree when graduating high school. For instance San Perlita ISD superintendent Albert Peña IV said: “We’ve had one or two dropout instances recently, but we really don’t deal with a lot of dropouts.”, reason being is that “Like San Perlita ISD, the South Texas Independent School Districts, which is a collection of five magnet schools across the Rio Grande Valley, reported a low total dropout rate…” because they have “looked to other community resources, such as Texas State Technical College.” (Ryan). Superintendent Anneliese McMinn from Rio Hondo IDS said: “…her district has formed a relationship with TSTC in the past year to help its students obtain GEDs.” (Ryan,

Working two jobs, paying bills, and trying to live a good life are what most dropouts go through. Education is a key factor in succeeding in life. However, not all students get to complete their high school and continue on to a college. Completing high school and getting a degree from college is the ticket to a better lifestyle. As we look around us, people are still living and paying off their bills even as dropouts from high school. However, they are living at a hand-to-mouth situation. Most dropouts probably work several jobs to just pay off their bills and support themselves. Today, you can have a well-respected job and a better lifestyle with simply an associate or bachelor’s degree. So, what is wrong with being a high school dropout?