This document discusses statistics related to the consequences of students dropping out of high school or failing to achieve literacy. It notes that dropouts earn on average $12,000 per year, 50% less than high school graduates and are 50% less likely to have benefits like pensions or healthcare. Additionally, 44 million Americans cannot read a newspaper or fill out a job application, and another 55 million cannot read above an 8th grade level. Failing to graduate high school or achieve literacy is linked to higher rates of poverty, crime, and incarceration.

2. 50% less likely to have pensions or healthcare plans

4. Same study found increasing the high school completion rate by 1% would save the US up to $1.4 billion annually in reduced costs from crimehttp://www.covingaliteracy.org/facts.htm<br />Education and Lifelong Earning (James Walker, Face to Face: The Changing state of Racism Across America)High School Drop Out$608,000High School Graduate$802,000Some College$922,890Associates Degree$1,062,130Bachelors Degree$1,420,850Masters Degree$2,142,440Doctorate$3,012,300<br />