| Q: |
Does the high school dropout rate vary by family income? |
| A: |
The dropout rate is greater among youth from low-income families than for all other family types. |
Percent of youth who dropped out of grades 10-12 in the preceding 12 months by family income, 1975-2009
| |
Total |
Family income |
| Low income |
Middle income |
High income |
| 1975 |
5.8% |
15.7% |
6.0% |
2.6% |
| 1976 |
5.9 |
15.4 |
6.8 |
2.1 |
| 1977 |
6.5 |
15.5 |
7.6 |
2.2 |
| 1978 |
6.7 |
17.4 |
7.3 |
3.0 |
| 1979 |
6.7 |
17.1 |
6.9 |
3.6 |
| 1980 |
6.1 |
15.8 |
6.4 |
2.5 |
| 1981 |
5.9 |
14.4 |
6.2 |
2.8 |
| 1982 |
5.5 |
15.2 |
5.6 |
1.8 |
| 1983 |
5.2 |
10.4 |
6.0 |
2.2 |
| 1984 |
5.1 |
13.9 |
5.1 |
1.8 |
| 1985 |
5.2 |
14.2 |
5.2 |
2.1 |
| 1986 |
4.7 |
10.9 |
5.1 |
1.6 |
| 1987 |
4.1 |
10.3 |
4.7 |
1.0 |
| 1988 |
4.8 |
13.7 |
4.7 |
1.3 |
| 1989 |
4.5 |
10.0 |
5.0 |
1.1 |
| 1990 |
4.0 |
9.5 |
4.3 |
1.1 |
| 1991 |
4.0 |
10.6 |
4.0 |
1.0 |
| 1992 |
4.4 |
10.9 |
4.4 |
1.3 |
| 1993 |
4.5 |
12.3 |
4.3 |
1.3 |
| 1994 |
5.3 |
13.0 |
5.2 |
2.1 |
| 1995 |
5.7 |
13.3 |
5.7 |
2.0 |
| 1996 |
5.0 |
11.1 |
5.1 |
2.1 |
| 1997 |
4.6 |
12.3 |
4.1 |
1.8 |
| 1998 |
4.8 |
12.7 |
3.8 |
2.7 |
| 1999 |
5.0 |
11.0 |
5.0 |
2.1 |
| 2000 |
4.8 |
10.0 |
5.2 |
1.6 |
| 2001 |
5.0 |
10.7 |
5.4 |
1.7 |
| 2002 |
3.6 |
7.7 |
3.6 |
1.7 |
| 2003 |
4.0 |
7.5 |
4.6 |
1.4 |
| 2004 |
4.7 |
10.4 |
4.6 |
2.5 |
| 2005 |
3.8 |
8.9 |
3.8 |
1.5 |
| 2006 |
3.8 |
9.0 |
3.5 |
2.0 |
| 2007 |
3.5 |
8.8 |
3.5 |
0.9 |
| 2008 |
3.5 |
8.7 |
3.0 |
2.0 |
| 2009 |
3.4 |
7.4 |
3.4 |
1.4 |
| Note: Low income is defined as the bottom 20% of family incomes for the year, middle is between 20% and 80% of all family incomes, and high is the top 20% of all family incomes. |
[ Graph version ]
[ Excel file ]
- The dropout rate was far lower (1.4%) for youth living in families with incomes in the top one-fifth of all families than for youth living in families with incomes in the bottom one-fifth of all family incomes (7.4%).
- Between 1975 and 2009, the dropout rate declined by 53% for youth from low-income families, 43% for youth from middle-income families, and 46% for youth from high-income families.
- Despite the decline in dropouts for youth of all family income types, the disparity in dropout rates between youth from low-income and high-income families have remained relatively constant. Between 1975 and 2009, the dropout rate for youth living in low-income families was on average more than six times the rate for youth living in high-income families.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/population/qa01504.asp?qaDate=2009.
Released on March 05, 2012. Data Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Trends in High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 1972-2009. [Report no. 2012-006]. [ PDF]. Washington, D.C.: 2011.
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