National Women's Law Center

When Girls Don't Graduate, We All Fail

The National Women's Law Center's groundbreaking new report, When Girls Don't Graduate, We All Fail: A Call to Improve High School Graduation Rates for Girls, finds that one in four girls drops out of school, and that the numbers are even worse for girls of color. Plus, the economic costs of dropping out are particularly damaging for girls. Female dropouts earn significantly lower wages than male dropouts, are at greater risk of unemployment, and are more likely to rely on public support programs.

Download the report or read the Center's press release on the report.

The Center emphasizes that interventions to address the dropout crisis must be tailored to the different needs of boys and girls of all races and ethnicities, based on the distinct experiences of these students and the enhanced research and data collection recommended by the report. Policymakers, educators, students, and parents all have a role to play in ensuring that students are provided the support they need to stay in school. A fully comprehensive dropout prevention strategy also requires:

Combating sexual harassment in schools. Both boys and girls report that they drop out in part because they do not feel safe at school. Download a fact sheet on sexual harassment for schools or for students.
Providing better support for pregnant and parenting students. Pregnancy and parenting responsibilities play a significant role in many girls' decisions to drop out of school.
Ensuring equal access for girls to career and technical education classes. These classes provide training for high-skill, high-wage jobs. Offering career education programs that emphasize the link between academic work, college success, and careers has been proven to reduce dropout rates.
Ensuring equal access for girls to after-school programs, including athletics programs. Studies have shown that participation in after-school programs improves graduation rates and academic achievement.

If you are concerned about the treatment of girls at your neighborhood school or if you have stories to share about the dropout crisis, contact the National Women’s Law Center at info@nwlc.org.