A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Commissioner's Statement (Part 3 of 6)

Are more young people finishing high school?

Despite curricular changes that may have made school more difficult, students are persisting in their studies. Overall, the percentage of high school students who leave before graduating has gradually declined and differences between dropout rates for blacks and whites have also narrowed, although most of these changes occurred before the mid-1980s (Indicator 6). This is encouraging because schools provide young people with the opportunity to explore their interests and develop their talents. It is also encouraging because staying in school is an important indication that a young person is learning to be a productive member of U.S. society and is less likely to suffer from poverty and unemployment (Indicators 28 through 32).

High school completion rates have gradually risen, and for some subgroups are near or over the 90 percent National Education Goal (Indicator 22). The rise is, in part, a result of greater student persistence in high school (discussed above), but may also be a result of more dropouts earning a GED credential. The rise is a positive development, but we must also be cautious because in today's economy a high school diploma or a GED credential may not be sufficient to avoid low earnings, unemployment, and, possibly, poverty. Since the early 1970s, the real wages of young adults with only a high school diploma or GED have declined (table 30-3), and the proportion of this group receiving AFDC or public assistance has increased (Indicator 32). The labor market opportunities for high school graduates are still better than those who complete 9-11 years of education, however.

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[What are high school students studying?]

[Are more young people going to college?]