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Report says high school students need to graduate on time

Some interesting information from research on students who took longer than four years to graduate from high school. The research was conducted by the Center for Public Education and can be found here.
The group followed 8th grade students from 1988 until 2000 and found "that late graduates do markedly better in all arenas than GED recipients and dropouts. Additionally, when the data is controlled to compare students of similar socioeconomic status and achievement level, late graduates come close to on-time graduates' achievement."

Highlights of findings include:
â€¢ Late graduates distinguish themselves not so much by enrolling in college, but in completing a degree. While they are not significantly more likely (59 percent) than GED recipients (51 percent) to enroll in college, they are much more likely to go on and obtain either an associates or bachelors degree.
â€¢ Late graduates are more likely than GED recipients and dropouts to be employed and to hold full-time jobs.
â€¢ Late graduates are significantly better off in terms of job benefits. Of the late graduates who were employed after 1994, close to two-thirds (63 percent) held a job that offered retirement benefits compared to just over half (53 percent) of GED recipients and less than half of dropouts (45 percent). Seventy-six percent of late graduates also had health insurance coverage compared to 66 and 61 percent of GED recipients and dropouts, respectively.
â€¢ Although late graduates are no more likely to be registered to vote than GED recipients, late graduates are significantly more likely to have voted in a recent election (40 percent versus 29 percent).
â€¢ Late graduates are more likely than GED recipients and dropouts to be non-smokers and to exercise more. There were no differences among the groups in drinking habits.

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Posted by J. Brian Ewing on Monday, February 9, 2009 at 10:10 am

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(imported)

February 9, 2009 - 10:50 am EST

So how does all this data compare to students who graduate in 4 years? The stats you presented made it sound like it's best to take longer than 4 years to graduate.

David Colin (imported)

February 9, 2009 - 11:57 am EST

What are the real stats?
My understanding is that of those that don't graduate in 4 years very few ever graduate,

Of those that don't graduate in 4 years what
percentage ever graduate at all?.

Brian

You had lots of stats do you have that one?

debora (imported)

February 9, 2009 - 11:59 am EST

Don't you just love the fact that the government has to do a study on if its better to graduate late than not at all.. or that a diploma is better than a GED.

I thought that was common sense, of course common sense and the government have nothing in common.

So you drop outs, get back in school. I am sure the government telling them that they will make more money, have a retirement fund and get insurance will really make them understand everything.

(imported)

February 9, 2009 - 12:07 pm EST

This is pretty interesting. I have a GED and I have a full time job, 401k, ROTH, and health benefits.

(imported)

February 9, 2009 - 12:12 pm EST

and i did not get my GED until i was almost 23 years old. but what do i know all i have is a GED.

J. Brian Ewing (imported)

February 9, 2009 - 12:51 pm EST

Couple of answers.
1. You can read more data if you follow the link. They don't seem to go in as much detail as some might like.

2. I should also note that the Center for Public Education is very clear to say in their release that it found it is still best to finish high school in four years.

3. I should also point out that the Center for Public Education is not a government department. It is a think tank - they love to be called that - off shoot of the National School Boards Association, a non-profit "advocacy" group made up of school boards around the nation.
I'm not sure if GCS is a member but I'll try to find out.

Michelle Perry (imported)

February 11, 2009 - 8:37 am EST

The full paper was not available to the general public until today. So before you question its statistics and findings you should read the entire report.

Beth Allen (imported)

February 11, 2009 - 8:43 am EST

To Anonymous with his GED - It is great that you got your GED and are successful but you can't honestly be saying that you would recommend for students that haven't graduated to wait until they are 23 to get a GED. You must know that your success is not the norm. So because it worked out for you doesn't negate the report's findings, which are based on a much greater sampling than just one student such as your self.

(imported)

February 12, 2009 - 12:08 pm EST

to beth allen. At no point did i say wait till your 23 to get a GED. I am almost 26yrs old now and wish i had done it earlier. What i am saying is that i finished and seeing how i have lots of friends who graduated on time still sitting on the same couch they were while laughing at me for not graduating. Why only show negative studies. thats not going to encourage young people to finish school. They think since they didnt graduate there is no point in going back. Why not show studies of people who did graduate on time and arent doing a damn thing. Then show studies of people who got a GED and have done well. I am pretty certain that i am not the only person to have received a GED and been successful.

(imported)

February 12, 2009 - 1:56 pm EST

OK - that might be an interesting study, but it isn't at all relevant here. The goal of GCS is to educate children and have them graduate in 4 years' time. I don't think we need to encourage GED's - they're certainly good for those who didn't graduate, but the goal is GRADUATION in 4 YEARS.

(imported)

February 12, 2009 - 3:24 pm EST

i agree 100% that a student should do everything they can to graduate in 4yrs. my point is without making it seem that its not important to do that, make sure these kids know there are other options and dont make these other options seem like they are not good options. when studies like this come out it aggravates me because if i was a student and all i ever saw was negative things about not graduating on time, or getting a GED i would feel like i have no other option and if i dont get a diploma i just wont get anything. that attitude is part of the reason i got mine so late. people learn differently and if you want the graduation rate to go up then you need to change things. you want the rates to stay the same or get worse, keep doing what you have been doing. isnt that the definition of insanity?

Michelle (imported)

February 16, 2009 - 8:47 am EST

Anonymous:

Congratulations for getting your GED. I know many people with PhD's who don't contribute to the community in any form. It isn't the degree that makes the person a wonderful person. It's the spirit within. That's why the government always gets it wrong.