The Problems with High School Drop Outs

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.

My survey contained ten questions developed around the idea of trying to connect high school drop out rates and incarceration rates. It was administered to ten people on my floor, three males and seven females. Overall, it is believed that crime is committed because people need to support themselves and/or their family. A majority chose 65% as the percentage of inmates in prison who are high school dropouts, when the correct percentage was 80%. In addition, they thought more high school dropouts were unemployed, when as of 2012 it was only 12% (Frontline). The most common reason why people drop out of school was tied between “could not keep up with school work and a job” and “lack of parent engagement”. Seven out of the ten believe that

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.

According to data from a general Social Survey kids that drop out of school at an early age often faces some discouraging statistics, 16% are unemployed while 32% live below the poverty line. This will correlate to a lifetime earnings increase of approximately $226,700 from finishing high school and joining the labor force at age 18 rather than exiting high school at age 16 (Messacar & Oreopoulos, 2013). Kids that stay in school past the age

Among one of the numerous debates of today, dropout age seems to be among the most debated. While the general public may wonder why dropout age is even an issue, many will agree that this is a topic worth mentioning in the world today. So what's the whole dispute about? Dropout age has been a concern for many people in the United States for many years now, mainly because while the majority of experts agree on its negative effects, others believe that dropout age shouldn't even matter. However, a group of U.S. Senators has recently taken up a position to lower the age to fourteen. So what's the answer to this debate? Contrary to the Senators' beliefs, dropout ages should be raised to prevent the negative effects high-school dropouts end up having.

Someone who decides to dropout without a high school diploma face a higher risk of being unemployed.When there is a lack of education, it will become difficult to receive a job and more likely to become on welfare. The earnings potential on average for dropouts is to be unemployed and earn less money when they eventually secure work rather than a high school graduate. In the Kerner report, Dorothy Bullitt stated that employed dropouts working at unskilled jobs will belong in a low-paying service occupation offering

From 1972 to 2006 high school dropout rates decreased from 6.1 percent to 3.8 percent. A majority of this decline occurred between 1972 and 1990, when the rate dropped to 4 percent. However, from 1990 to 1995 there was a surprising increase in dropout rates (Laird & others, 2008). Since then there have been numerous debates and discussions on the issue of dropout rates and how to handle them appropriately. From the information above, it is very evident that the United States wasn’t directly involved with the matter. As a result, stated before, President Barack Obama made his claim towards this issue. This urged most states across the nation to raise the dropout age (Ho, 2017). In fact, a study co-authored by Alan Krueger, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, found that in some states approximately 25 percent of potential dropouts stayed in school since the compulsory schooling age was moved to 18. With an additional year of schooling that 25 percent will increase their earnings by at least 7 percent when

seven thousand, three hundred eighty dollars for people with a school diploma.” This data shows that people without a high school degree earn less money than those with a degree. Even though parents sometimes depend on their children for help they should at least wait until they are eighteen, so that they can have a possibility of gaining a higher income. Therefore, students should be required to stay in high school until the age of eighteen, so that they can have higher job

In addition, high school dropouts have caused many hardships that negatively affect the American economy. Individuals, who have not received high school credentials, live such experiences as poverty, unemployment, teenage parenthood, and criminal activity (Esch, 2003). For example, without the minimum of a high school diploma, individuals are susceptible to a cycle of poverty (AYPF, 2006). Esch (2003) explained that in any given year, the likelihood of slipping into poverty is about three times higher for high school dropouts than for those who finish high school. He mentioned that high school dropouts lack many skills to be hired for decent jobs; therefore, students are more susceptible to be dependent on the public assistance. Researchers revealed that if one third of high school dropouts were to remain in school and earn a diploma, the federal government would save almost 11 billion annually from reducing funds needed for food stamps, housing

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

“Dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It’s not just quitting on yourself, it’s quitting on your country, and this country needs and values the talents of every American.” -Barack Obama. This quote from Barack Obama was from his address to Congress. Some might say that high school is not for everyone, but dropping out of high school can affect your future. As of right now, the dropout age is 16 . Teenagers at the age of 16 are not very knowledgeable of what happens after high school. At the age of 16 teenagers are not an adult nor should have to worry about dropping out of school. Therefore, students should not be able to make this life- changing decision until their senior year. Getting a high school diploma is a big deal yet these students are dropping out and losing the chance to have a good job that pays well and have a better future.

America’s graduation rate has increased from 72% to 75.5% since 2001, that’s only a 3.5% change in 15 years. Our nation's graduation rate has dropped from first to eighteenth in 30 years and ⅓ of all students drop out of high school. So, why is this such a big deal to people who have graduated themselves and are already in the work force? First, students who drop out of high school get paid a substantial amount less than employees who have diplomas. Second, dropouts cost paying taxpayers over $8 billion per year. Lastly, students who fail to earn their high school diploma are more likely to become criminals.

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.

There are 1.2 million high school dropouts in the US every year. In the city of Milwaukee only 61% of high school students actually receive a high school diploma.

Thesis Statement: More and more students drop out each year. Those who dropped out have various reasons. The alarming rates of drop outs have led them to a bleak future wherein such incident requires the attention and immediate action of various school authorities.