The Need for Charter Schools

The global achievement gap is real and present nationally and in Dallas.

• For 2007, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ranked the United States 20th out of 28 industrialized countries in terms of upper-secondary (high school equivalent) graduation rates.
• Nationally only 17% of students who enter college ultimately graduate from college
• Fewer college graduates reduces our country's wealth, while adding major costs to our economy
  
• Over the course of a lifetime, a high school graduate will earn over $1 million less than a college graduate
• Male high school dropouts are 47 times more likely to be incarcerated than a college graduate
• The unemployment rate is 4 times higher for high school dropouts than college graduates
• 90% of Anglo students in area ISDs passed the 2008-09 Science TAKS test vs. 68% Hispanic and 65% African American students
• 80% of Anglo students in area ISDs graduated from high school in 2007 (most recent data available) vs. 66% Hispanic and 69% African American seniors
  

Sources: NY Times, Digest of Education Statistics, National Report Card on Education, AEIS, TEA.