High
School Dropout Rates
High school dropouts are more likely to
be unemployed than high school graduates and, even when employed, are more
likely to earn less than those receiving diplomas. Also, dropouts
are more likely to live in poverty, become teen
parents, receive government assistance and become involved in crime than are
high school graduates.
Pinellas County’s high school
dropout rates have undergone wide swings over the years. After reaching a
peak of 5.2% in the 2001-2002 school year, the dropout rate declined to 2.7%
in 2004-2005 before moving up to 3.4% in the latest school year.
Averaging dropout rates
helps smooth out some of the year-to-year volatility and facilitates
comparisons. A comparison of Pinellas County’s average dropout rate over
the three-year 2004/05–2006/07 period to that of the state and other
counties of similar size, shows that Pinellas’ dropout rate is below
Florida, Duval and Palm Beach counties but significantly above
Hillsborough and Orange Counties.
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