“According to data from the Alliance for Excellent Education’s “Graduation Effect” economic model, reaching a 90 percent graduation rate for just one cohort of students would mean the country would see a $3.1 billion increase in annual earnings, create more than 14,000 new jobs, and save $16.1 billion in health care costs.
 

• High school graduates are more likely to be employed, make higher taxable income, and aid in job generation.
• High school graduates earn a national average of $8,000 more annually compared to high school dropouts.
• High school graduates are less likely to engage in criminal behavior or require social services.
• High school graduates have better health and longer life expectancy.
• High school graduates are more likely to vote [and college graduates are even more likely to vote]. During the 2012 presidential election, 4 percent of people who left high school without graduating voted compared to 24 percent of youth with only a high school diploma and 37 percent with a college degree.
• High school graduates contribute to America’s national security because students who leave high school without a diploma are not qualified to serve in the military.
• The nation’s economy depends on skilled labor. Business leaders report difficulty in finding enough qualified employees with the skills, training and education to meet their companies’ needs.”

Source: America’s Promise Alliance. 2018. High School Graduation: Ending the Dropout Crisis.

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