One of the advantages of graduating from high school is increased employment opportunities. A Georgetown University report indicated that 36 percent of available jobs require a high school diploma. More specifically, by , you can expect that 13 million jobs list a high school diploma as a minimum requirement as opposed to 7 million for people without one.
A National Center for Education Statistics report indicated that 4. One of the benefits of earning your high school diploma is knowing that you had the intelligence and work ethic to get across the finish line. The importance of high school graduation is evident in the unemployment rates of high school graduates compared to those adults without a diploma.
If you need a new environment, request a transfer to a high school that's a better fit for you. You might need a different social scene, an academic focus that interests you, or a schedule that works better for your other commitments. Many areas also have alternative schools or online high schools, which offer non-traditional programs to complete your degree. You may be able to work at your own pace, and many offer special programs to help you transition to community college.
As much as possible, focus on completing school rather than working at a job, until you finish. Many students get motivated by participating in art, theater, sports, choir, band or orchestra, or clubs. You can develop new friendships and polish your talent at the same time. Take an Interest Assessment to explore career options and think about where you want to be after high school.
Get a summer job to gain experience and save money for college or other training. Talk with family about how to pay for training after high school. They help prepare you for college work, and may even help you finish college faster. Find out if your district offers free tuition at a local college while you are still in high school.
Earn high school and college credits at the same time. Join activities like music, art, theater, sports, and clubs to strengthen your college applications.
Go to college fairs to learn about colleges and ask questions. Visit colleges you are interested in to take a tour, sit in on a class, and interview with admissions staff. Apply to colleges that interest you, usually in the fall of senior year. Most offer a free application, and those that charge a fee may let you apply for help paying it. Attend a financial aid event at your school or a local college to learn how financial aid works and what you might qualify for.
Among young women, teen pregnancy and teen parenthood are also important risk factors for school dropout. Students who drop out of high school may experience poor health and premature death. Programs that encourage high school completion can improve the graduation rates of high-risk students and communities.
Research consistently shows that employment prospects and lifelong earning potential are better for high school graduates. Additional research is needed to further understand the effects of high school graduation on health outcomes and disparities. This additional evidence will facilitate public health efforts to address high school graduation as a social determinant of health. Disclaimer: This summary of the literature on high school graduation as a social determinant of health is a narrowly defined review that may not address all dimensions of the issue.
As a result, there may be variability in the use of terms, for example, black versus African American. High school completion programs: a community guide systematic economic review. Journal of Public Health Manage Pract. Reframing school dropout as a public health issue. Prev Chronic Dis. Losing our future: How minority youth are being left behind by the graduation rate crisis. Programs to increase high school completion: a community guide systematic health equity review.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, ;48 5 — Dropout prevention and intervention programs for improving school completion among school-aged children and youth: a systematic review. Why students drop out of school and what can be done. Table In: The condition of education. Public high school graduation rates. The relationship between parental involvement and urban secondary school student academic achievement. Urban Educ.
Dropping out of middle school: a multilevel analysis of students and schools. Am Educ Res J. Dropping out: how much do schools contribute to the problem? Unsafe public schools and the risk of dropping out: a longitudinal study of adolescents. Verbal and physical abuse as stressors in the lives of lesbian, gay male, and bisexual youths: associations with school problems, running away, substance abuse, prostitution, and suicide. J Consult Clin Psychol.
The effect of negative school climate on academic outcomes for LGBT youth and the role of in-school supports.
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