In many regards, the transition from secondary school to postsecondary roles appears more difficult for youth with disabilities in urban areas compared to youth in suburban and rural areas. NLTS data indicate that urban youth with disabilities are less likely to graduate from high school, less likely to enroll in postsecondary education, and less likely to be employed in the years immediately after high school. Secondary School Completion Youth with disabilities in urban areas were less likely than their peers in suburban and rural areas to graduate from high school, and were more likely to drop out of school. As shown in table 4.8, 50.8 percent of youth with disabilities in urban areas graduated from high school, compared to 66.9 percent of youth in suburban areas and 60.8 percent of youth in rural areas. As such, the fact that urban youth are less likely to complete high school is a legitimate concern.
Standard errors are in parenthesis.
The National Longitudinal Transition Study of Special Education Students. Statistical Almanac, Volume 1 . Given the relatively high dropout rate for urban youth with disabilities, it is not surprising that few enrolled in postsecondary education or training. Employed youth in urban areas earned slightly higher wages, on average, than youth in suburban or rural areas. Table 4.9 shows the types of jobs youth with disabilities held in the years immediately after leaving school.