By Lisa Iwaki, USCM Intern
July 3, 2006

Mayors and their cities directly feel the impact of low high school graduation rates. Last week’s release of a national report entitled “Diplomas Count” on the problematic trends in high school graduation by Education Week’s Education Research Center raised the interest of mayors on education and the implications to the economic vitality and future workforce of the nation’s urban centers.

The study projects that for the current academic year 2005-2006, approximately 30 percent or 1.2 million students will not graduate of the four million students in this class. The most recent hard graduation data from the 2002-2003 school year paints a stark picture for not only our urban high schools but the nation’s as a whole. On average, the graduation rate of urban high schools is only around 60 percent—ten percent less than the national average and 15 percent less than the suburban average. It states that high schools have a significant problem in retaining students so they attain the necessary skills to complete high school and continue to postsecondary education or enter the workforce. The report also indicates that students between the 9th and 10th grade are the most vulnerable to drop out.

The cumulative cost of student dropouts to society is staggering. An 18-year old who does not complete high school earns about $280,000 less over his lifetime than an individual with a high school diploma, and contributes about $60,000 less in federal and state income taxes. Furthermore, those who do graduate from high school live longer, have better health, and are less likely to use publicly financed health care, commit crimes, and be incarcerated. If the graduation rate would increase by one percent for men aged 20 to 60, the nation would save as much as $1.4 billion a year in reduced costs of crime.

There is a wide variance in the data collected in states and cities. For instance, the graduate rate of South Carolina was 52.5 percent compared to 84.5 percent of New Jersey. A sample of the graduation rate in the nation’s largest urban school districts is the following: Detroit — 21.7 percent, New York City — 38.9 percent, Fort Worth — 48.9 percent, Washington, D.C. — 58.9 per cent, Louisville — 62.2 percent, and Long Beach (CA) — 68.1 percent.

These findings are lower than what was officially reported by states, which are given the flexibility in choosing their own methods to calculate their graduation rates according to provisions in the No Child Left Behind Act. Recently, governors have agreed on a common definition for graduation rate but not all states have begun to implement the agreement.

“Diploma Counts” suggests strategies and interventions that are key in helping more students leave high school with diplomas. These include:

Build an early warning data system that tracks individual students over time so educators know their progress and identify their academic problems.

Start early to identify students who are at risk of dropping out. These indicators appear as early as sixth grade or earlier.

Target interventions on students transitioning to middle and high school, with particular attention to 9th grade.

Provide extra assistance to these identified at-risk students as individuals or in groups, especially when they are found to be behind in grade level work such as reading or mathematics.

Create multiple pathways to graduation because there are a variety of reasons why students do not graduate. This means a variety of educational opportunities to complete high school but also having the same rigorous high standards.

Redesign high schools that are smaller, more student-focused, and have a rigorous curriculum seem to help keep students longer.

Coordinate the provision of services outside academics, such as workforce, housing and community development.

Strengthen accountability systems, such as unifying the collection of graduation rates or data on student performance gains.

The results of this report further indicate the need for mayors to become more involved and engaged in education in their cities. Mayors are essential in solving problems emanating from an increased number of high school dropouts which include a lower skilled workforce, an increased crime rate, increased health costs, as well as increased gang activity.