HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION: Why it matters to all of us

Did you know

• A high school graduate will earn $400,000 more, on average, than a dropout
• Dropouts are twice as likely to commit crimes and account for more than 61% of the prison population
• Dropouts are twice as likely to live in poverty

 

High school graduation is not only a critical milestone for youth and their families, it is a predictor of individual financial achievement and success.  For our community, the educational achievement of our youth equals an important engine for economic growth and stability.

Why we care

The current on-time high school graduation rate in Anchorage is 72 percent. That means that roughly:

•  One in four students isn’t graduating on time
•  One in four students faces greater odds of unemployment, poverty and criminal behavior 

 

And while 72 percent is better than it was five years ago, it’s just not good enough. That’s why United Way of Anchorage and its partners in Anchorage United for Youth have aligned around a common goal: to increase the high school graduation rate to 90 percent by 2020!

To reach this goal, we all need to step up in ways both bold and simple.

Click here to learn about Anchorage United for Youth’s bold actions to help youth succeed.

Click here to learn about simple things that you can do today to support youth today.

Data Source: Anchorage Community Assessment Project (CAP): 2011 Action Report on Education