Less Than High School Education in United States

United States

Keeping children and adolescents in school through high school graduation and beyond is a key strategy to advance health equity. Educational attainment is a strong predictor of future health outcomes. The connection between education and health is well documented — lower educational attainment among adults is correlated with poorer health, while higher educational attainment is associated with better jobs, higher earnings, increased health knowledge, better self-reported health and fewer chronic conditions. Individuals with lower educational attainment are at greater risk of adverse health outcomes such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, mental health problems and premature death. 

According to one study, investments to reduce education-related disparities could save up to 8 times more lives than equal investments in medical advances. Compared with high school graduates, individuals who do not complete high school are estimated to cost the United States more than $272,000 in lower tax contributions, higher use of government assistance and other expenses over their lifetime.

The high school graduation rate is lower among:

• American Indian/Alaska Native and non-Hispanic Black students compared with Asian and non-Hispanic white students.
• Students from economically disadvantaged households. 
• Students who had children at a young age.
• Disabled students.
• Students with limited English proficiency.

Several high school completion programs have been successful in improving high school graduation rates by targeting high-risk populations. Programs aimed at increasing high school graduation rates — and ultimately health equity — include: 

• Vocational training and alternative schooling.
• Social-emotional skills training.
• College-oriented programming, mentoring and counseling.
• Attendance monitoring and case management.
• Community service opportunities.

According to one study, interventions to increase high school graduation rates should target health-related and socioeconomic barriers to graduation. These include absenteeism, developmental delay due to chronic stress, chronic illness, poverty, hunger, homelessness and teen pregnancy. The expansion of school-based health centers can help address these barriers.

Increasing the proportion of students who graduate in four years with a regular diploma is a Healthy People 2030 adolescent health objective.

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