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August 25, 2004
Report on High School Dropouts, Study
A recent study by the Manhattan Institute (MI) claims that the
national graduation rate is incorrect and dropping. The National
Center for Education Statistics reports that it's 86%
however, MI has concluded that it is closer to 70%. This
is based on data researchers collected from school districts
nationwide. For minorities the picture is bleaker with 51% of
African American students and 52% of Latino students graduating
on time.
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Findings of the study have shown that many schools count those
who pass the general educational development test or GED in
their official graduation rate - this in turn inflates
the numbers reported by the National Center for Education
Statistics. Jay Greene one
of the authors of the study
maintains that those who dropout and earn a GED cannot be
measured against those with high school diplomas because the
rigor of the high school program is much more intensive than the
GED program.
Consider:
* About 75 percent of all state prison inmates, and 59 percent
of all federal inmates, are high school dropouts.
* In 2000, only half of all dropouts were employed at any given
time, according to the national KidsCount 2004 report.
* Each year's class of dropouts will cost the country over $200
billion during their lifetimes in lost earnings and unrealized
tax revenue, according to the National Dropout Prevention
Center.
Researchers cited the following predictors of a potential
dropout
-poor academics
-cutting classes with grades falling even more
-first two years of high school characterized by social and
academic problems
-having two years worth of credits after 3 1/2 years of high
school
-child who feels bored at school or feels they don't fit in
-child who stays out late unsupervised
Researchers also noted that the size of a high school may be
overwhelming to children
who long for a more intimate learning
environment.
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