Dropouts, Diplomas, and Dollars: U.S. High Schools and the Nation’s Economy Report (PDF)
August 27, 2008

The United States can no longer absorb the costs and losses associated with an education system that produces more than 1.2 million dropouts every year. This report examines the impact of this crisis on the dropouts themselves, as well as its effect on the economy, social fabric, and security of the nation, states, and local communities.

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Using Early-Warning Data to Improve Graduation Rates: Closing Cracks in the Education System Policy Briefs (PDF)
August 26, 2008

This brief explores the power of early-warning data in predicting whether a student will drop out, offers examples of current efforts to use such data to guide secondary school interventions across the country, and discusses the policies that can support these efforts.

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Every Student Counts: The Case for Graduation Rate Accountability  Policy Briefs (PDF)
July 7, 2008

In passing the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in 2001, members of Congress from both parties acknowledged the importance of addressing the significant achievement gaps between students of differing racial, ethnic, economic, and linguistic backgrounds. In the years since the law’s enactment, further data has highlighted the glaring inequities that continue to exist in and between schools, districts, and states across the country. NCLB was designed to address these gaps by holding schools accountable for the success of every student enrolled. However, the legislation fails to address a key measure of a successful high school: who graduates?

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Understanding High School Graduation Rates (Out of Print)
January 16, 2008

The unacceptably low graduation rates of America’s youth have been obscured for far too long by inaccurate data, misleading calculations and reporting, and flawed accountability systems. Nationally, and for each state, “Understanding High School Graduation Rates” illustrates the discrepancies in graduation rates reported by government and independent sources, examines why this is important, and describes core policy areas that are fundamental to calculating, reporting, and improving accurate graduation rates.

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High School Dropouts in America  Fact Sheets (PDF)
September 19, 2007

Over a million of the students who enter ninth grade each fall fail to graduate with their peers four years later. In fact, about seven thousand students drop out every school day. Perhaps this statistic was acceptable fifty years ago, but the era in which a high school dropout could earn a living wage has ended in the United States. Dropouts significantly diminish their chances to secure a good job and a promising future. Moreover, not only do the individuals themselves suffer, but each class of dropouts is responsible for substantial financial and social costs to the communities, states, and country in which they live.

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Who’s Counted? Who’s Counting? Understanding High School Graduation Rates  Report (PDF)
June 27, 2006

Who’s Counted? Who’s Counting? Understanding High School Graduation Rates explains the reasons why so many different graduation rate formulas and statistics exist, addresses why states report them differently, discusses the limitations and benefits of each method, and – most importantly – defines the policy changes needed to assure that educators, school officials, parents, and the public receive timely and accurate information about how many students are actually graduating so that they can assess their schools’ current effectiveness and make improvements.

Press Release
State Specific Information

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