8.5.2: High School Graduation and Enrollment in Higher Education
Graduating high school is often used as a key metric since it is associated with better economic opportunities. Most jobs - even entry level, minimum wage jobs - require at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Dropping out of high school is associated with other social determinants of health such as poverty and unemployment, but also health outcomes such as higher risk for chronic disease. Teens who have gotten pregnant during high school are more likely to drop out, as are students who have less support for their education from parents. A perception of safety and caring in the classroom is also important. Students are more likely to complete high school when they feel like their teachers are invested, and don’t apply unfair punishment or discipline within the classroom ( High School Graduation - Healthy People 2030 , n.d.).
In recent years, high school completion rates have improved, however disparities still exist. For example, in the 2019-2020 academic year, the graduation rate was 87%, which is the highest it was in 8 years. Asian/Pacific Islander and White student graduation rates (93% and 90%) were still the highest compared to Hispanic (83%) Black (81%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (75%) ( COE , 2023). And these racial disparities continue into college enrollment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in October of 2022, 62% of 16-24 year olds who had graduated high school the year prior were enrolled in college. This percentage was not a significant change from the 2 years prior, but prior to the pandemic in 2019 the college enrollment percentage was just above 66%. Women are also significantly more likely to go to college, with 66% of young women and only 57% of young men enrolling. Enrollment rates in 2022 were highest for Asians (72%), slightly lower for Blacks (64%) and Whites (62%) and lowest for Hispanics (58%) ( College Enrollment and Work Activity of Recent High School and College Graduates Summary , 2023).
Higher education can have many benefits for both income and health across the lifespan. Although there are always a small percentage of those with a high school diploma that make more money than bachelor’s degree holders, and a small percentage of bachelor’s degree holders that make more than graduate degree holders, the general trend for the majority of the population favors college educated individuals getting higher earnings with each level of degree (associates to doctorate/professional degrees) ( The College Payoff: More Education Doesn’t Always Mean More Earnings , 2021). Higher paying jobs are often less dangerous, can lead to growing wealth, better housing, and often come with more reliable access to health insurance and better retirement potential. College graduates are also less likely to engage in harmful health behaviors like excessive drinking, and more likely than their non-college educated peers to adopt positive health behaviors like exercising and getting routine health screenings ( Enrollment in Higher Education - Healthy People 2030 , n.d.)