For the last 18 years, Stand for Children has represented students in the United States by advocating for beneficial policy and budgetary changes. As put forth by the organization’s platform, Stand for Children works toward decreasing the national high school dropout rate, especially among impoverished communities.

2.  For the last 18 years, Stand for Children
has represented students in the United
States by advocating for beneficial
policy and budgetary changes. As put
forth by the organization’s platform,
Stand for Children works toward
decreasing the national high school
dropout rate, especially among
impoverished communities.

3.  There are many reasons a high school
student may feel a desire to drop out of
school; however, they are outweighed by
the far greater number of reasons to
complete high school and earn a diploma.
Chief among these reasons is the fact that
high school dropouts are four times as likely
to be unemployed than individuals who
earned a diploma and continued on to
college. The rate of incarceration is much
higher among high school dropouts as well;
they comprise 75 percent of state, and 59
percent of federal, inmates.

4.  Finally, individuals who fail to complete a
high school program are also far likelier
to require public assistance over the
course of their lives. In fact, high school
and college diplomas dictate a person’s
income for the following 50 years after
graduation: on average, high school
graduates make $143 more per week
compared to dropouts, while college
graduates make $479 more.