At one time, a high school dropout could still realize the American dream of getting to the middle class. This is now rarely the case. The difference in salary over a lifetime for a four-year degree graduate as compared to a high school dropout is $1.1 million. Sixty-five percent of the jobs being created from 2000 to 2010 will require a two year degree or higher. Twenty percent will require a four year degree or higher. The shortest route out of poverty today is education beyond high school.
Economist Anthony Carnevale writing in Education Week Magazine further elaborates on the importance of post high school training. He points out that the number of workers in jobs that require post high school education has doubled since 1973-- from 30 percent to 60 percent. He makes the point in his article that post secondary training is the key to finding new opportunities.
He also writes that the more education you have the greater are your career alternatives. This does not mean you need multiple degrees. It means that the more varied training adults receive after high school, the more opportunities they have for work and finding employment fulfillment.
The person with very limited training has very limited options. Carnevale also points out that much post high school training can be categorized as a hybrid approach. What he means by that is it may not lead to a terminal degree. As long as it adds to the skills and technical competence of a person, it still can lead to enhanced opportunities and increased wages.
The bottom line in all of this is that young people should not see graduating from high school as their ultimate goal. They should look ahead to goals for education beyond twelfth grade if they hope to enter a life of attractive options and middle class or higher income.
This forces school districts to change their focus. They are not successful if they only get students through high school graduation. Schools need to look beyond high school graduation and focus on what needs to be learned to make sure students are successful both in college and in the workplace.
In order to do this, K-12 districts must be connected with post secondary institutions and with the job sites. This is to make sure that what young people are learning leads to adult success.
Thus, the communication between school districts and employers and between school districts and colleges is essential. Bridges are needed between schools and both entities. Some of these connections currently exist, but they need to be expanded.
One example of how this is improving can be seen in the increase in dual enrollment classes at CHS. CHS partners with Central Community College and Wesleyan to offer 16 of these classes. This compares to having one available just two years ago. Students who take these classes receive both high school and college credit. In order to offer these classes, CHS instructors work with colleges to make sure the high school curriculum matches post-secondary requirements.
Another example of bridge-building can be seen in 13 CPS staff members doing summer internships in local industry to determine what students need to know to be successful in our local manufacturing plants. A third example can be seen in the high school math department’s work with business partners to create work applications for their courses’ content.
Two things are critical. One is that schools continue to develop these connections so that graduates can be successful when they leave. Secondly, it is vital that students and parents realize that education beyond high school is required for any student who wants to attain a middle class or higher income and who wants to have interesting options from which to choose during their adult lives.
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