Why Does It Matter?
A high school diploma is required by 3/4 of jobs and increases earnings by $7,000 per year.
According to the Nebraska Department of Labor, over three-fourths of jobs require a high school diploma or GED. Locally, someone with a high school degree earns over $7,000 more per year than someone without a high school diploma. Because a high school diploma is becoming more of a minimum requirement for employment, students who graduate are more likely to get a higher paying job.
More research is finding that there are other key indicators for success in school beyond test scores. Personal characteristics like hope or grit are emerging as important measures. Research through Gallup has shown strong links between grades, and hope and well-being. These studies indicate that the more hopeful a student feels about his or her future, the more engaged and motivated they may be to stay in school, and ultimately graduate. Because of these findings, more school districts are collecting data on hope and engagement to better understand how their students are faring.
While graduating high school is important, it is also important that graduates are prepared for college or a career. Skills like problem solving, cooperation, and communication are important to have in addition to skills in subjects like math, science or reading. Without these a student may be able to graduate, but won't be able to be successful in college or a career.