• Transition and Homeless

    Jodi Tull
    (217) 362.3060
    JTull@dps61.org

     

    Our story is one of true community collaboration that is making a difference in the educational needs of our students. In 2001, we experienced a 61% dropout rate among African-American males and our overall 4-year dropout rate was nearly 40%. At that time, our community made a collective decision to specifically focus on the dropout rate and the achievement gap amoung the racial groups in our community. A Joint Dropout Task Force was formed through the efforts of our local NAACP and Chamber of Commerce. Since that time, numerous agencies, churches, and businesses have worked together to reduce our dropout rate and begin closing the achievement gap. Since 2001, the overall dropout rate, as well as the dropout rate among African-American males, has decreased more than 5%. Our current 4-year dropout rate is 18.2% and our 1-year dropout rate is 1.6%. The 2008-2009 African-American male dropout rate was 29%.

     

     

    Dropout Statistics

     

    How valuable is a high school diploma?

    • The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that dropouts bring in $10,000.00 less than a high graduate

    • The poverty rate for dropouts is over twice as high as college grads, and the unemployment rate is generally 4% higher than the national average.

    • Lifetime earnings of a high school dropout are $260,000.00 LESS than peers who earn a diploma.

     

    Why should I care?

    • It’s estimated ½ of all Americans on public assistance are dropouts.

    • High school dropouts cost taxpayers $292,000.00 over the course of their lives.

    • Over 80% of the incarcerated population is high school dropouts.

    • 22% of people jailed in the U.S. are black males who are high school dropouts.

     

    Follow Matthew Lynch, Ed.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/lynch39083