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