Dropout Rates

A major problem in the American education system is the dropout rate. It is a problem for minority groups mainly, and especially minority groups from low income communities. Each year roughly 1.2 million people do not graduate from high school, most from minority groups. There is a huge gap between the rate of white American dropout and on-time graduation rates and minority dropout and on-time graduation rates. Nationally about 71 percent of people graduate from high school on time, but only a little more than half of African American and Hispanic students graduate on time. That kind of gap is staggering. Why is that happening?

The answer comes in the form of economic disparity across the nation. There are areas across America known as “dropout factories” that produce more than half of the dropouts overall. These “dropout factories” are a very small percent of American schools, 2000 schools, about 12 percent of the schools nationally. Most of these high schools are located in northern and western urban areas and scattered prolifically through the southern states.

These poor economic areas are creating a poor quality of education for high school students and costing these students not only their futures but the future of America. There have been studies done stating that if high schools and colleges raised the graduation rate of African American, Hispanic and Native American students to the level of white students that they would add 310 billion dollars of income to the U.S. economy. Increased graduation rates would also prevent crime related costs and greatly decrease the amount of lost wages in America.

This is a very important issue that effects not only the individuals but America as a whole. It needs to be focused on and improved. Especially here in South Carolina where the Corridor of Shame has a large problem with dropout rates.