Teens today face a lot of pressures. Many students deal with difficult life circumstances that prevent them from focusing on the future. They feel trapped in their situations with no hope of getting out.

This can lead to a loss of interest in school and prioritizing other things over their education. What they may not realize is that dropping out of high school will actually prevent them from accomplishing their goals. Labor market studies show that 6 out of 10 jobs require at least two to four years of college.

Dropouts make up the majority of those who are unemployed. They are more likely to commit crimes, abuse drugs and alcohol, become parents at a young age, and live in poverty. Dropouts are disproportionately low-income students and the highest percentage of dropouts occur among Hispanic and African-American students. Our speakers draw from their own life experiences to inspire at-risk students to stay in school and focus on their futures. Book a Dropout Prevention program to keep your students motivated in their education.

Dropout Statistics

• More than 1/4 of high school freshmen fail to graduate from high school on time – US Department of Education
• Each year, approximately 1.3 million students fail to graduate from high school – Alliance for Excellent Education
• 52% of Hispanic students and 56% of  black students will graduate in four years, compared with 78% of white students – National High School Center
• High school students from low-income families are six times more likely to drop out than students from higher income families – National High School Center
• 75% of prison inmates did not complete high school – Alliance for Excellent Education

The Warning Signs

Many dropouts struggle early in school, repeat grades and have low attendance. These can be warning signs that a student will drop out in high school. Catching these students early can keep them in school longer.

• Low attendance and failing grades can identify dropouts as early as 6th grade – Alliance for Excellent Education
• Over 1/3 of all dropouts struggle in 9th grade – Alliance for Excellent Education
• 47% of dropouts said a major reason for dropping out was that classes didn’t interest them – The Silent Epidemic
• 26% of dropouts stopped going to school because they became a parent – The Silent Epidemic
• Only about 50% of teen mothers receive a high school diploma by 22 years of age, compared to approximately 90% of women who do not give birth during adolescence – CDC
• Incidents of bullying in schools lead to higher dropout rates  – Phys.org

Economic Impact

• High school dropouts are 72% more likely to be unemployed compared to high school graduates – National Education Association
• Students who graduate from high school earn an average of $9,245 more per year than students who do not complete school – National Education Association
• Over their lifetimes, dropouts earn $260,000 less than high school graduates (Alliance for Excellent Education) and more than $1 million less than college graduates (The Silent Epidemic)

What we do

Just Say YES speakers let students know they can succeed, sharing stories from their own lives about how they overcame similar obstacles. Some share examples of how they were the first in their family to graduate high school and college. They encourage students to realize that they are more than their culture and circumstances would have them believe. As JSY speaker and former NFL player Keith Davis says, “In the game of football there is a first and a second half. You might be down in the first half, but you can still come back and win the second half. Your past does not define your future.”

Book a Dropout Prevention Program for you school and encourage your at-risk students to focus on their future success.