21
The percentage of young male high school dropouts age 16-to-19 who were unemployed in 2010, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
48
The percentage of young male dropouts age 16-to-19 who were not in the labor force in 2010, or more than the 31 percent of young male dropouts who have dropped out have any form of employment.
35
The percentage of high school dropouts not in the labor force as of October 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Add in the number of dropouts who are unemployed and half of high school dropouts are either not seeking or unable to find work.
20
Percentage of white dropouts, age 16-to-24 who were unemployed in October 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s double the 11 percent unemployment rate for counterparts who have at least some form of higher education, and 8 percent unemployment rate for baccalaureate recipients. Thirty-three of white dropouts are out of the workforce.
35
Percentage of young black dropouts age 16-to-24 who are unemployed in October 2011. That’s more than the 23 percent unemployment rate for counterparts with some college experience, and the 20 percent unemployment rate for four-year collegians. Forty-two percent of black dropouts are not in the labor force.
30
The percentage of young Asian dropouts age 16-to-24 who were unemployed in October 2011. A mere 7 percent of young Asian adults with some college experience, and 11 percent of four-year collegians, were unemployed.
17
The percentage of Latino dropouts age 16-to-24 who were unemployed in October 2011. The unemployment rate for Latino adults with some college experience is just 13 percent, and while the unemployment rate for four-year collegians is currently 20 percent, more of them will find jobs during the economic recovery.
What does the future look like for the 1.2 million sixth-graders who are likely functionally illiterate and will likely drop out in the next six years? Just consider the present of today’s dropouts. With half of them either not seeking work or unable to find jobs, these young men and women will struggle with economic poverty and be unable to experience the kind of social mobility that Americans have come to expect. And for those of us who are well-educated, earning an income and able to pay taxes, the costs are immense — from paying $594 billion into a traditional public education system that is fostering achievement gaps, to the welfare statements needed to help these young people.
As this week’s Dropout Nation Podcast points out, achievement gaps aren’t limited to just a smattering of poor black and Latino children, but to a wide number of kids from impoverished and affluent backgrounds. We cannot afford to not overhaul American public education.