Medical researchers have made significant advancement over the past century. These advances in medical research and technology have resulted in better outcomes for life expectancy and reduced the burden of disease. One thing medical researchers fail to foresee is improving high school dropout rates is a public health concern, especially the populations most at risk. Yet, health professionals decline to take the opportunity to look at their approach to systematically improving health and reducing health disparities (Freudenberg & Ruglis, 2007). Public health professionals should make reducing high school dropout rates a public health priority.
The disparities gaps in health outcomes are expanding. There needs to be a more targeted approach …show more content…
However, U.S. high school dropout rates continue to afflict at-risk populations (NACCD, 2011). The risk of dropping out of high school is high for racial minorities and students from families of low socioeconomic status. Over the last four decades (from 1972 to 2012), the percentage of Hispanic high school dropouts were consistently higher than Black and White dropouts (Stark & Noel, 2015). More young Black males move from high school to prison and more pregnant teens drop out of high school (Ruglis & Freudenberg, 2010). High school dropouts earn less per year on average than those who graduate from high school (Stark & Noel, 2015). Not only does a high school dropout suffer economically, society suffers also. 40 percent of high school dropouts receive some form of government assistance. For each high school dropout that turns to drugs or crime, it is estimated to cost the U.S. anywhere from $1.7 million to $2.3 million and represents billions of dollars annually in lost revenue for …show more content…
economy (Burrus & Roberts, 2012). All these factors are risks for lifelong social and economic problems and developing chronic illnesses and diseases.
Education is one of the strongest influences on health. The more schooling a student has, the healthier they are likely to be as an adult (Freudenberg & Ruglis, 2007). Completing high school is a useful measure for evaluating educational achievement because its influence on health may lead to improvement in population health. In fact, tackling the high school dropout crisis may also reduce future health disparities (NACDD, 2011).
A good education is correlated with better health, an increased quality of life, and being a productive member of society. Transforming current approaches to education and health interventions to improve educational achievement and reduce socioeconomic and health disparities in dropout rates are important to improving our nation’s health (Ruglis & Freudenberg, 2010). Schools alone cannot close the gaps in educational achievement or reduce health disparities among high school students. This will require a coordinated approach by linking teachers, families, students, legislators, communities, and health professionals together in solving this public health issue. This action calls for a social movement that has the ability to change educational and health systems to achieve better health and educational achievement (Ruglis & Freudenberg,
The disparities gaps in health outcomes are expanding. There needs to be a more targeted approach …show more content…
However, U.S. high school dropout rates continue to afflict at-risk populations (NACCD, 2011). The risk of dropping out of high school is high for racial minorities and students from families of low socioeconomic status. Over the last four decades (from 1972 to 2012), the percentage of Hispanic high school dropouts were consistently higher than Black and White dropouts (Stark & Noel, 2015). More young Black males move from high school to prison and more pregnant teens drop out of high school (Ruglis & Freudenberg, 2010). High school dropouts earn less per year on average than those who graduate from high school (Stark & Noel, 2015). Not only does a high school dropout suffer economically, society suffers also. 40 percent of high school dropouts receive some form of government assistance. For each high school dropout that turns to drugs or crime, it is estimated to cost the U.S. anywhere from $1.7 million to $2.3 million and represents billions of dollars annually in lost revenue for …show more content…
economy (Burrus & Roberts, 2012). All these factors are risks for lifelong social and economic problems and developing chronic illnesses and diseases.
Education is one of the strongest influences on health. The more schooling a student has, the healthier they are likely to be as an adult (Freudenberg & Ruglis, 2007). Completing high school is a useful measure for evaluating educational achievement because its influence on health may lead to improvement in population health. In fact, tackling the high school dropout crisis may also reduce future health disparities (NACDD, 2011).
A good education is correlated with better health, an increased quality of life, and being a productive member of society. Transforming current approaches to education and health interventions to improve educational achievement and reduce socioeconomic and health disparities in dropout rates are important to improving our nation’s health (Ruglis & Freudenberg, 2010). Schools alone cannot close the gaps in educational achievement or reduce health disparities among high school students. This will require a coordinated approach by linking teachers, families, students, legislators, communities, and health professionals together in solving this public health issue. This action calls for a social movement that has the ability to change educational and health systems to achieve better health and educational achievement (Ruglis & Freudenberg,