Nationwide Statistics Card (Updated 3/13/2008)
This card provides a statistical snapshot of high schools for the United States and includes data on funding, teachers' salaries, graduation rates, college readiness, and academic achievement.

Potential Economic Impacts of Improved Education on the United States
This economic impact fact sheet helps policymakers and the public understand the extent of the economic costs to society of an educational system that serves so many students poorly. It also provides an overview of the potential economic benefits that a state could enjoy were it to invest in a high school system that prepares all high school students for graduation and success after high school.

Understanding the Nation's High School Graduation Rates
Discrepancies continue to exist between the graduation rates reported by the states and the U.S. Department of Education and those estimated by independent researchers. Understanding High School Graduation Rates spotlights these discrepancies, examines why more accurate graduation rates are needed, and provides three core policy areas that are fundamental to calculating, reporting, and improving accurate graduation rates.

HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS COST THE UNITED STATES BILLIONS IN LOST WAGES:
If the 1,265,016 high school dropouts from the Class of 2006-2007 had earned their diplomas instead of dropping out, the U.S.’ economy would have seen an additional $329 billion in wages over these students’ lifetimes. A chart with state-by-state breakdown for all fifty states and the District of Columbia is available at http://www.all4ed.org/files/HighCost.pdf.

THE UNITED STATES’ ECONOMY COULD SEE BILLIONS IN WEALTH ACCUMULATION BY RAISING THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE:
If the high school dropouts who currently head households in the U.S. had earned their diplomas, the country’s economy would have benefited from an additional $74.3 billion in wealth accumulated by families. More information, as well as a chart with state-by-state breakdown for all fifty states and the District of Columbia, is available at http://www.all4ed.org/files/hiddenbenefits.pdf.

THE UNITED STATES COULD SAVE BILLIONS IN HEALTH CARE COSTS BY RAISING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES
If all of the students in the United States who are estimated to drop out of school this year earn diplomas instead, the country could save more than $17.1 billion over the course of those young people’s lifetimes. More information, as well as a chart with state-by-state breakdown for all fifty states and the District of Columbia, is available at http://www.all4ed.org/files/HandW.pdf.

THE UNITED STATES’ ECONOMY WOULD SEE BILLIONS IF THE MINORITY GRADUATION RATE WAS RAISED TO THE LEVEL OF THEIR WHITE CLASSMATES
If U.S. high schools and colleges were to raise the graduation rates of Hispanic, African-American, and Native-American students to the levels of white students by 2020, the potential increase in personal income in the country would add more than $310 billion to the U.S.' economy. More information, as well as a chart with state-by-state breakdown for all fifty states and the District of Columbia, is available at http://www.all4ed.org/files/demography.pdf.

THE UNITED STATES SPENDS BILLIONS ANNUALLY ON REMEDIAL EDUCATION FOR RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
The United States spends over $3.7 billion each year to provide community college remediation education for recent high school graduates who did not acquire the basic skills necessary to succeed in college or at work. More information, as well as a chart with state-by-state breakdown for all fifty states and the District of Columbia, is available at http://www.all4ed.org/files/remediation.pdf.

FIVE PERCENT INCREASE IN MALE GRADUATION RATE COULD SAVE THE UNITED STATES BILLIONS IN CRIME-RELATED SPENDING
Were the U.S. to increase the graduation rate and college matriculation of its male students by only 5 percent, the country could see combined savings and revenue of almost $7.7 billion each year. More information, as well as a chart with state-by-state breakdown for all fifty states and the District of Columbia, is available at http://www.all4ed.org/files/SavingFutures.pdf.

TEACHER TURNOVER COULD COST THE UNITED STATES BILLIONS ANNUALLY
More than 394,139 teachers in the U.S. will not be returning to the schools where they taught last year. What’s more, replacing these individuals could cost the country up to $4.9 billion. More information, as well as a chart with state-by-state breakdown for all fifty states and the District of Columbia, is available at http://www.all4ed.org/files/TeacherAttrition.pdf.