1. Education Briefings for Candidates for Office
The Dropout Issue

2. TWO WAYS TO MEASURE SCHOOL COMPLETION:
The dropout rate shows how many leave school
before graduation.
The 4-year graduation rate indicates how many
graduated on time. NC US
Dropout rate
5.2%
9.3%
4-year graduation rate
68%
75%
NC data from DPI, “ Annual Report on Dropout Events and Rates” ( US data from U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2007). The Condition of Education 2007

3. Dropout Rates Rising Slightly
Data from DPI, “ Annual Report on Dropout Events and Rates” (

4. Graduation rates differ by race, both in NC and nationwide.
68.0%
51.1%
76.8%
53.2%
50.2%
61.0%
63.5%
33.8%
68.3%
58.4%
53.6%
61.1% 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
All
Am Indian
Asian
Hispanic
Black
White US NC
Data from the Harvard Civil Rights Project,
Source: Harvard Civil Rights Project (2004)

5. NC’s Educational Pipeline
For every 100 ninth grade students….
60 complete high school 4 years later
41 of those enroll in college
29 of those return to college for their 2nd year
Just 19 receive an associate’s degree within 3 years, or a bachelor’s within 6 years
Data from DPI, “ Annual Report on Dropout Events and Rates” (

6. Solutions to the Dropout Problem
High School Reform
Dropout Prevention grants
NC Virtual Public Schools
Learn & Earn Online
9th grade academies
Other strategies
Raise compulsory
attendance age?
Early interventions?
Better counseling?
Afterschool programs?

7. John Dornan jdornan@ncforum.org 919-781-6833 www.ncforum.org