Fewer drop out

Just 7 percent of the nation's 18-to-24 year olds dropped out of high school last year, continuing a steady decline in the nation's dropout rate since 2000, when 12 percent dropped out, reports Richard Fry for the Pew Charitable Trust. The decline has been driven in part by substantially fewer Hispanic and black youth dropping out: Although Hispanics still have the highest dropout rate among all major racial and ethnic groups, it reached a record low of 14 percent in 2013, compared with 32 percent in 2000. The decline is particularly noteworthy since it comes as the Hispanic youth population is growing. In absolute numbers (889,000), it was the lowest number of Hispanic drop-outs since 1987. However, Hispanics account for just 9 percent of adults ages 25 to 29 with a bachelor's degree; by comparison, whites account for 69 percent. The dropout rate for blacks was also at a record low in 2013 (8 percent), falling by nearly half since 2000 (15 percent). Among non-Hispanic white youth, the dropout rate has also declined since 2000 to 5 percent in 2013. Asian youth continue to be the major racial group with the lowest high school dropout rate (4 percent in 2013), but it was not at a record low last year. More

Source:  Public Education News Blast

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Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is an education support organization that works as a collaborative partner in high-poverty communities.