Education Edition - 1736 Magazine, Fall 2019
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COVER STORY continued from 18<br />
“We have some parents who do care,”<br />
she said. “It’s not that they don’t care, but<br />
they’re trying to put food on the table by<br />
working three jobs.”<br />
Numerous national studies have shown<br />
a strong correlation between poverty and<br />
high school dropout rates. Some have<br />
shown students in families in the bottom<br />
20% of wage earners are five times more<br />
likely to drop out of high school than students<br />
from families in the top 20%.<br />
Federal wage statistics show high school<br />
dropouts earn roughly $260,000 less<br />
over their lifetimes than those who earn<br />
a diploma. Roughly half of Americans on<br />
public assistance are high school dropouts.<br />
A Northeastern University study found that<br />
each high school dropout costs taxpayers<br />
$292,000 in social services and criminal<br />
justice costs throughout the course of the<br />
dropout’s life.<br />
With Richmond County’s graduation<br />
rate dropping for the second consecutive<br />
TOP: A group of students work on their laptops at the Cyber Academy of Excellence. Students can<br />
obtain industry certifications and dual-enrollment status at Augusta Technical College through the<br />
program.<br />
ABOVE: Ashton George, left, and Elizabeth Conner work with an interactive cyber-threat map at the<br />
Cyber Academy of Excellence. Students from throughout the district can apply for the program.<br />
COVER STORY continues on 24<br />
22 | <strong>1736</strong>magazine.com<br />
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10/25/<strong>2019</strong> 11:52:57 AM
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