Statistics
- In 2009, approximately 43% of Black young adults without a high school diploma were living in poverty, compared to 34% of Black young adults whose highest level of educational attainment was high school completion.
- In general, lower unemployment rates were associated with higher levels of education overall and for Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics in 2010. While the overall unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds was 19 percent, it was 30 percent for those without a high school diploma and 7 percent for those with a bachelor's or higher degree. Similarly, the unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-old Blacks without a high school credential was 49 percent, compared with 32 percent for those with only a high school credential and 12 percent for those with a bachelor's or higher degree.
- The unemployment rate for Hispanics ages 16 to 24 who did not complete high school was 28 percent, compared with 12 percent for those who completed a bachelor's or higher degree. Patterns for adults ages 25 to 29 were similar to those of young adults ages 16 to 24. For example, 21 percent of 25- to 29-year-olds without a high school diploma were unemployed, compared with 5 percent of those with a bachelor's or higher degree.
- Children who grow up in low socioeconomic conditions typically have a smaller vocabulary than middle-class children do, which raises the risk for academic failure.
- Students from low-income households are more likely to struggle with engagement.
U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences National Center for Education Statistics International Year of Statistics 2013
ASCD Educational Leadership Article How Poverty Affects Classroom Engagement