Why is it that non-Why is it that non-white high school white high school

students have a high students have a high percentage of percentage of dropping out?dropping out?

By: Mapa MohulamuBy: Mapa Mohulamu

**Facts****Facts**

• the dropout rate among non-Hispanic the dropout rate among non-Hispanic blacks was 21 percent, 12 percent among blacks was 21 percent, 12 percent among non-Hispanic whites, and 34 percent for non-Hispanic whites, and 34 percent for Hispanic youthHispanic youth

• Black and Hispanic youth are more likely Black and Hispanic youth are more likely than non-Hispanic whites to drop out of than non-Hispanic whites to drop out of high school.high school.

• Asian youth, with a dropout rate of 3 Asian youth, with a dropout rate of 3 percent, had the lowest dropout rate percent, had the lowest dropout rate among all racial and ethnic groups in 2005. among all racial and ethnic groups in 2005.

**Stakeholders****Stakeholders**

• High school studentsHigh school students-current-current-future-future• Teachers and ProfessorsTeachers and Professors• ParentsParents• Family’s Family’s • Board of educationBoard of education• SchoolsSchools• GovernmentGovernment• everyoneeveryone

**Why****Why**

• Reasons why students drop out:Reasons why students drop out:

• -unlikely to have the minimum -unlikely to have the minimum skills and credentials necessary skills and credentials necessary to function in today's increasingly to function in today's increasingly complex society and complex society and technological workplace. technological workplace. • Thirty-five percent said that “failing in school” was amajor factor for dropping out• Not Motivated

**More****More**

• Nearly half (47 percent) said a major reason for dropping out was that classes were not interesting.

• Many students gave personal reasons for leaving school. A third (32 percent) said they had to get a job and make money; 26 percent said they became a parent; and 22 percent said they had to care for a family member.

• -Has no life/no goals-Has no life/no goals

**Data****Data**

• Shows which ethnicity has dropped Shows which ethnicity has dropped out and those enrolled.out and those enrolled.

There is a high school dropout epidemic in America. Each year, almost onethird of all public high school students – and nearly one half of all blacks,Hispanics and Native Americans – fail to graduate from public high schoolwith their class. Many of these students abandon school with less than two years to complete their high school education.This tragic cycle has not substantially improved during the past few decadeswhen education reform has been high on the public agenda. During this time, the public has been almost entirely unaware of the severity of the dropout problem due to inaccurate data. The consequences remain tragic.The decision to drop out is a dangerous one for the student. Dropouts aremuch more likely than their peers who graduate to be unemployed, living inpoverty, receiving public assistance, in prison, on death row, unhealthy, divorced ,and single parents with children who drop out from high school themselves……..

- (continued on this site: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/nr/downloads/ed/thesilentepidemic3-06final.pdf)

**An Open Letter to the American People**