| At the end of June 2007 the Supreme Court | | | | high schoolers make it to graduation. And a 2006 |
| made a split 5-4 ruling that limits the ability of | | | | USA Today article reported that less than 50% |
| schools to use race as a factor in determining | | | | of Houston Schools students graduate on time. In |
| student participation in academic programs like | | | | that same year the Princeton Study reported |
| magnet schools. Around that same time, the | | | | that drop-outs cost the state of Texas over $31 |
| Alliance for Excellence in Education released a | | | | billion. |
| study out of Princeton University that reports the | | | | What explains these numbers? Educators in |
| cost of high school drop-outs to the country over | | | | Houston Schools aren't surprised by the numbers. |
| the next decade will be about $3 trillion. | | | | They have know for years facts that the study |
| Houston Schools will have to make some | | | | cites from numerous sources; that high school |
| decisions in years to come based on both of | | | | graduates in the Houston Schools (and the nation) |
| these results. The Supreme Court decision has | | | | are less likely to become teen parents than |
| been brewing for decades. While Houston Schools | | | | drop-outs; they raise healthier and better |
| do not use race as admission to magnets, the | | | | educated children; commit less crimes; and use |
| specialized schools were started for the purpose | | | | less public services (welfare, food stamps) and |
| of desegregation. And the current battle over the | | | | less government healthcare. It's the cumulative |
| issue of achieving racially balanced schools by | | | | cost of these factors that make the drop-out |
| using race as a factor is a tense one. Houston | | | | rate so costly for Houston Schools. |
| Schools won't have to make changes to its | | | | How is that affected by the recent Supreme |
| magnets, as other schools in the country will. But | | | | Court Ruling? The question is race. Houston |
| - the Houston Schools will still need to focus on | | | | Schools face a significant gap in graduation rates |
| ways to address the huge racial achievement gap. | | | | between white and non-white students. In 2006 |
| The Princeton study, conducted by Cecelia Rouse, | | | | the racial breakdown of the percentage of |
| a professor of economics and public affairs, | | | | students who graduated on time from Texas |
| released some disturbing statistics for both | | | | Schools looked like this: Asians 83%, Whites 75%, |
| Houston Schools and the entire state of Texas. | | | | African-Americans 60% and Hispanics 25%. |
| Individually, every high school drop-out costs the | | | | Houston Schools follow these numbers closely. |
| United States $260,000. In Texas, only 66.8% of | | | | |