In October 1995, the report states, nearly 3.9 million young adults ages 16 to 24 were not enrolled in a high school program and had not completed high school. Technological advances have increased the demand for skilled labor to the point where a high school education serves more as a minimum requirement for entry into the labor force. This increased emphasis on educational requirements makes the completion of a high school program more essential than ever. Young women who drop out of high school are more likely to become pregnant at earlier ages and are more likely to be single parents. Dropouts are more likely to receive public assistance than graduates of high school.
Dropouts comprise a disproportionate percentage of the nation's prison and death row inmates.
The new report examines data for the school year ending October 1995 and historic data dating back to 1972. This eighth annual report of dropout statistics goes into more detail than previous reports. Hispanic students are more likely to leave school than black or white students. Nearly 40 percent of the 1995 dropouts were students 15-17 years of age. Since 1972, the dropout rate has ranged from 4 percent to 6.7 percent.