Building a Grad Nation: Progress and Challenge in Ending the High School Dropout Epidemic. Annual Update 2014
Author: Balfanz, Robert
Date: 2014-04-00
Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data
Subjects: High School Students,Dropouts,Educational Trends,Trend Analysis,Graduation Rate,Low Income,Achievement Gap,Disabilities,Attendance,Prevention,Educational Change,Middle Schools,Social Support Groups,Educational Research,Educational Policy,College Preparation,Labor Force Development,Case Studies,School Districts,Elementary Secondary Education,Educational Principles,Program Descriptions,Achievement Gains,Intervention,Accountability,Tables (Data),Student Diversity,Special Needs Students,Scheduling

This fifth annual update on America's high school dropout crisis shows that, for the first time in history, the nation has crossed the 80 percent high school graduation rate threshold and remains on pace, for the second year in a row, to meet the goal of a 90 percent high school graduation rate by the Class of 2020. This report highlights key developments in the effort to boost high school graduation rates during the past decade. It also outlines what it will take to get to 90 percent and identifies five critical areas--closing the opportunity gap between low-income students and their middle-to-high- income peers; solving the big city challenge; improving outcomes for students with disabilities; focusing on California; and boosting graduation rates for young men of color in key states--to help the nation reach its goal. The report is organized into the following sections: Part 1: Data and Trends highlights the latest graduation rates at the national and state levels, dropout factory trends, five areas of focus to reach the 90 percent goal, and a timeline of key developments in addressing the dropout crisis; Part 2: Progress and Challenge provides an update on four key planks--chronic absenteeism, middle grades reform, adult and peer supports, and re-engaging dropouts--of the nation's shared effort to implement the Civic Marshall Plan to reach the 90 percent goal; Part 3: Moneyball for Dropout Prevention shares best available research on what works; Part 4: Paths Forward offers policy recommendations and other ways to keep the nation on track to reach the 90 percent goal, with students prepared for college and the workforce; and Part 5: Final Word offers a letter from young leaders. Case studies and snapshots are provided throughout the report to highlight best evidence in dropout prevention and recovery and specific examples of success within schools, communities, states, and the nation. The following are appended: (1) Dropout Factory Change, by Region and State, 2002-2012; (2) Dropout Factory Change, by Locale, 2002-2012; (3) Top Two-Hundred Largest School Districts by Total Number of K-12 Students and 2011-2012 ACGR by State; (4) Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate (AFGR) and Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR), by State, 2003-2013; (5) Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rates (ACGR), by State and Subgroup, 2011-2012; (6) 2012 Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) Gaps, by Subgroup and State; (7) Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) Public Availability, by State, District, and School, Classes of 2010-2012; (8) Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) Data Links by State; (9) Frequently Used Terms; (10) Graduation Rate FAQ; (11) Civic Marshall Plan Principles; and (12) Key Programs of the Grad Nation Campaign. [Data analysis for this report was performed by Mark Pierson and Vaughan Byrnes. Target was a supporting sponsor of this publication.]