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The Agurban from Boomtown Institute – Graduation Matters

Almost one million students who start ninth grade each year will not earn a diploma four years later. That’s one of every four students. These figures represent an incalculable loss of talent and carry profound civic and economic consequences. The high school diploma is a bare minimum credential necessary to have a fighting chance at successful participation in the workforce or civil society.

Until two years ago, however, state systems that report graduation rates dramatically undercounted dropouts. An analysis of accountability for high school graduation rates under the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) reveals two major problems:

1. State goals for raising graduation rates are far too low to spur needed improvement.

2. Gaps between student groups (white, Latinos, African Americans, Latino, low-income) are allowed to persist by an accountability system that looks only at average graduation rates.

To spur improvement, we need accurate data. But we also need to set ambitious graduation-rate goals for all groups of students, measure whether schools are meeting them, and provide strategic supports to struggling students and schools. Calculating and reporting honest graduation rates for all groups of students are the necessary first steps in designing accountability systems that our schools and students need.

Ironically, America led the world in high school graduation at a time when attaining a diploma was less critical to social and economic mobility. The lead we built through early adoption of universal secondary education has evaporated, and many other countries both graduate more of their young people and boost greater social and economic mobility. According to the most recent data, the U.S. ranks 17th in high school graduation in the developed world, behind counties such as Germany, France, and Hungary.

Studies have shown that high school graduates will earn upwards of $200,000 more in their lifetime than those workers who did not complete high school. Additionally, a person with a Bachelor’s degree will earn, on average, almost twice as much as workers with a high school diploma over a lifetime ($2.1 million compared to $1.2 million).

We can reverse these dropout trends, but it will take hard work and the concerted efforts of policymakers, educators, and communities. Improving graduation rates for all groups of students won’t happen overnight, but it will never happen if it is not even a goal we are working toward.

To view a list of schools in your state that are listed as "Dropout Factories", visit Dropout Factories http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/wdc/dropout/index.html?SITE=AP .

To view state reports, go to Summaries 2006-States http://www2.edtrust.org/edtrust/summaries2006/states.html .

Sources: The Education Trust and National Center for Education Statistics.

The Blog Log
Visit my weblog to see where I’ve been and what I have learned along the way.

On the road again…
In addition to my travel blog I’ll list my upcoming engagements in each issue of The Agurban. Come see me when I’m in your neighborhood!

Jack’s Schedule

Upcoming Speaking Engagements:

Thursday, November 8 – Johnstown, PA – Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Chamber of Commerce

Tuesday, November 13 – Princeton, KY – Caldwell- Lyon Partnership

Wednesday, November 14 – Roanoke, WV – Create West Virginia Conference

Thursday, November 15 – Columbus, MS – 4-County Power Association

Thursday, November 15 – Starkville, MS – North MS Industrial Dev. Association

Friday, November 30 – Elk Grove, CA – Friday, October 26 – Mt. Shasta, CA

Jack Schultz is the CEO of Boomtown Institute and Agracel Inc., an industrial development firm majoring in rural America, author of Boomtown USA, and speaker. Boomtown Institute serves as an economic development mentor to communities across the United States, leading communities to realize their full potential.

Visit the Boomtown Institute website at http://www.boomtowninstitute.com
Keep up with Jack as he tours the country on his blog!
To learn more about Agracel visit http://www.agracel.com.

email: [email protected]
phone: 217-342-3000
web: http://www.boomtowninstitute.com

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