High School Dropout Rate Among Low-Income Students
“The high school dropout rate among persons 16-24 years old was highest in low-income families (16.7 percent) as compared to high-income families (3.2 percent)” (National Center for Education Statistics). The National Center for Education Statistics is one of many organizations that study high school dropout rates. The dropout rate among low-income families is 16.7 giving it a 13.5 margin between high and low-income. Greater income gaps between those at the bottom and middle of the income distribution result in low-income students to drop out of high school more often than their peers in diverse areas. The higher dropout rate of lower income income level students compared with higher income level students show that low-income students are more
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Instead, they choose to drop out and find it may be better to go straight to working to help their families out with their financial problem. Poverty often causes hard times and, “roughly 30 percent of students who drop out of school between the ages of 16 and 18 are working in a variety of jobs”(Rosales). Clearly, these students work to support their family in low-income communities. Most also feel it is a waste of time and others want to attend school, yet don’t have the opportunities to stay. Not all students from low-income families drop out to work, but for some their work hours may run into school hours. And for the low-income students work may be more crucial. They feel as though giving up on their education to help out their family is their final option. This decision of dropping out of high school will cost them all of their life’s potential. Because they did not receive a good education, they will most likely work low paying jobs throughout their live. These students are trading their futures for a cyclical they will have to live financial problem they have with for their whole life. If a student does not finish high school to work, “these workers usually fill low-skilled jobs and earn approximately $9,500 a year. About half work 40 weeks or more a year averaging 31 hours a week... On average, working youth contribute almost 22 percent to the family budget while approximately 10 percent of these teen workers contribute more than half”(Scott). Students who are under these circumstances work an average of 31 hours a week this does not allow them to focus on school and receive a proper education. Although they do not earn much money a year, it does make a difference. But is it really worth
Instead, they choose to drop out and find it may be better to go straight to working to help their families out with their financial problem. Poverty often causes hard times and, “roughly 30 percent of students who drop out of school between the ages of 16 and 18 are working in a variety of jobs”(Rosales). Clearly, these students work to support their family in low-income communities. Most also feel it is a waste of time and others want to attend school, yet don’t have the opportunities to stay. Not all students from low-income families drop out to work, but for some their work hours may run into school hours. And for the low-income students work may be more crucial. They feel as though giving up on their education to help out their family is their final option. This decision of dropping out of high school will cost them all of their life’s potential. Because they did not receive a good education, they will most likely work low paying jobs throughout their live. These students are trading their futures for a cyclical they will have to live financial problem they have with for their whole life. If a student does not finish high school to work, “these workers usually fill low-skilled jobs and earn approximately $9,500 a year. About half work 40 weeks or more a year averaging 31 hours a week... On average, working youth contribute almost 22 percent to the family budget while approximately 10 percent of these teen workers contribute more than half”(Scott). Students who are under these circumstances work an average of 31 hours a week this does not allow them to focus on school and receive a proper education. Although they do not earn much money a year, it does make a difference. But is it really worth