How do local economic and social changes affect school disengagement and dropout? After rising for most of the 20th century, the high school graduation rate has been stagnant or on the decline since 1970. This William T. Grant Scholar is examining how local economic contexts affect educational attainment. Dr. Ananat is also studying how variation in school desegregation orders and job prospects affect school attendance, grades, test scores, disciplinary problems, educational tracks, and dropout rates. She is using measures including attendance, grades, test scores, friendship networks, family context, and enrollment. She is also gathering data on local employment and school desegregation orders. As wages have been falling for those without a high school diploma, it is vital to understand why some youth leave school early.
How do local economic and social changes affect school disengagement and dropout?
