Fast Facts: Dropout rates (16)

Dropout rates

Question:
What are the dropout rates of high school students?

Response:

The status dropout rate¹ represents the percentage of 16- to 24-year-olds who are not enrolled in school and have not earned a high school credential (either a diploma or an equivalency credential such as a GED certificate). In 2022, there were 2.1 million status dropouts between the ages of 16 and 24.² The overall status dropout rate decreased from 7.0 percent in 2012 to 5.3 percent in 2022.³

The status dropout rate generally varied by race/ethnicity in 2022. The status dropout rate for 16- to 24-year-olds was

highest for those who were American Indian/Alaska Native (9.9 percent), Pacific Islander (9.1 percent), and Hispanic (7.9 percent); and
lowest for those who were Asian (1.9 percent).

From 2012 to 2022, the status dropout rate declined for 16- to 24-year-olds who were

American Indian/Alaska Native (from 12.8 to 9.9 percent);
Hispanic (from 12.8 to 7.9 percent);
Black (from 9.0 to 5.7 percent);
White (from 4.7 to 4.3 percent); and
Asian (from 2.6 to 1.9 percent).

The status dropout rate for those of Two or more races was also lower in 2022 (4.5 percent) than in 2012 (5.6 percent), although there was no measurable trend for the period. In contrast, the status dropout rates for those who were Pacific Islander and those of Some other race⁴ did not differ measurably in 2022 compared with 2012. Further, there were no measurable differences between the status dropout rates in 2019—the year before the coronavirus pandemic—and 2022 for any racial/ethnic group except for those who were White, whose dropout rate was greater in 2022 (4.3 percent) than in 2019 (4.1 percent).

In 2022, the status dropout rate was higher for male 16- to 24-year-olds than for female 16- to 24-year-olds overall (6.3 vs. 4.3 percent). Status dropout rates were higher for males than for females among those who were

American Indian/Alaska Native (12.6 vs. 7.0 percent);
Hispanic (9.6 vs. 6.1 percent);
Black (7.0 vs. 4.4 percent);
of Two or more races (5.3 vs. 3.7 percent); and
White (4.9 vs. 3.7 percent).

There were no measurable differences in status dropout rates between males and females who were Asian, Pacific Islander, or of Some other race.

¹ In this Fast Fact, status dropout rates are based on data from the American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is an annual survey that covers a broad population, including individuals living in households, individuals living in noninstitutionalized group quarters, and individuals living in institutionalized group quarters. Noninstitutionalized group quarters include college and university housing, military quarters, facilities for workers and religious groups, and temporary shelters for the homeless. Institutionalized group quarters include adult and juvenile correctional facilities, nursing facilities, and other health care facilities. Data are based on sample surveys of the entire population residing within the United States, including the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
² For general technical notes related to data analysis, data interpretation, rounding, and other considerations, please refer to the Condition of Education Reader�s Guide.
³ Data for 2020 are not presented due to collection issues associated with the coronavirus pandemic.
⁴ Consists of respondents who wrote in some other race that was not included as an option on the questionnaire.

SOURCE: National Center for Education Statistics. (2024). Status Dropout Rates. Condition of Education. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved May 30, 2024, from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/coj.

Numbers in figure titles reflect original numeration from source Condition of Education indicators.

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