November 21, 2007
There are significant costs to be paid by both the individual and the nation as a whole for each and every student who drops out of high school. In general, dropouts face significant challenges to obtaining employment and achieving economic security. Female dropouts are at particular economic risk. As compared to their male peers, girls who fail to graduate from high school have higher rates of unemployment; make significantly lower wages; and are more likely to need to rely on public support programs to provide for their families. With so many students dropping out of high school each year, the aggregate drain on our nation’s economy—through foregone income tax revenue and increased public spending—is substantial. At a time when every hour counts, the dropout rates and educational experiences of female students cannot be ignored. This report therefore focuses on female students who do not complete high school. The report systematically evaluates (I) current dropout rates for female students in the United States; (II) the consequences of dropping out for female students; (III) the factors that put students at risk of dropping out, with a focus on factors that may particularly affect female students; and (IV) recommendations for the future.
Posted by Gary Holden at November 21, 2007 8:22 AM