Why PROPEL?It is an economic issue in that the earning power of high school dropouts is significantly below that of those who obtain higher education levels, and it is getting worse.

It is an educational problem in that somehow we have not been able to meet the needs of students.

It is a social problem in that the cost to society is increased.

Forsyth vs. State Graduation

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75 percent of state prison inmates and 59 percent of federal inmates are high-school dropouts.

High-school dropouts are 3.5 times more likely than graduates to be incarcerated. Dropouts contribute disproportionately to the unemployment rate. In 2001, 55 percent of

young adult dropouts were employed, compared to 74 percent of high-school graduates and 87 percent of college graduates.

Dropouts contribute to state and federal tax coffers at about one-half the rate of high-school graduates. Over a working lifetime, a dropout will contribute about $60,000 less.

The 23 million high-school dropouts aged 18-67 will contribute roughly $50 billion less annually in state and federal taxes.

Studies suggest the United States would save $41.8 billion in health care costs if the 600,000 young people who dropped out in 2004 were to complete one additional year of education.

If 33 percent of dropouts graduated from high school, the federal government would save $10.8 billion each year in food stamps, housing assistance, and temporary assistance for needy families.

Testifying before Congress, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said dropouts cost the United States "more than $260 billion... in lost wages, lost taxes and lost productivity over their lifetimes."

By The Numbers

Clearing the Myths

Students drop out mostly for social, family, or

personal reasons that have little to do with school.

Myth 1 – Social Reasons

Myth 2 - PredictabilityDropping out is a sudden and often surprising event that

can’t be predicted.

Myth 3 – The School’s Impact

Dropping out is a personal decision that has nothing to do with how schools operate.

Myth 4: EngagementStudents drop out because they are bored, not because

they struggle academically.

Myth 5: Academic Prep

If we just made sure all students were academically prepared to

handle high school coursework, the dropout problem would go away.

Myth 6: Low AmbitionsStudents drop out because they have low ambitions.

What We Can Do

Parents…Schools…CommunityWe All Have a Hand!

Identify Students

Early

Examine Policies &

Procedures

Strong Community

Partnerships

Reduce Social

Isolation

Manage Student

TransitionsOptions &

Interventions

Parent & Family

Relationships