The Silent Epidemic

• In 2020, there were 2.0 million status dropouts between the ages of 16 and 24, and the overall status dropout rate was 5.3 percent. (NCES)

  The status dropout rate of 16-24-year-olds varied by race/ethnicity in 2020.

  Asian (2.4 percent)

  Black (4.2 percent)

  White (4.8 percent)

  Hispanic (7.4 percent).

  American Indian/Alaska Native (11.5 percent)

• In 2020, the overall status dropout rate was higher for males 16- to 24-year-olds than for female 16- to 24-year-olds (6.2 vs. 4.4 percent).

• In school year 2019–20, the U.S. average adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for public high school students was 87 percent.

  Asian/Pacific Islander students had the highest ACGR (93 percent).

  White (90 percent)

  Hispanic (83 percent)

  Black (81 percent)

  American Indian/Alaska Native (75 percent) students.

• Gaston County Schools reported that 258 students (2.62%) dropped out in 2018-2019 which is slightly higher than the state rate of 2.01% for that year. (Gaston County Schools)

• Gaston County schools reported a 4 year graduation rate graduation rate of 85.2% for the Class of 2022 which is a decrease from the 2021 (86.5%) and 2020 (88%) rate. (Gaston County Schools)

 2022 – GCS Graduation Rate – 85.2

 2021 – GCS Graduation Rate – 86.5

2020 – GCS Graduation Rate – 88.0

• In 2021-2022 school year, GCS reported that 56 % of students were not proficient in their reading performance as determined through the End-of-Grade (EOG) reading assessments in grades 3-8. (NC School Report Card)

• In 2021-2022, only 18.2 percent of English Language Learners in GCS met North Carolina’s definition of progress toward English language attainment as demonstrated on NC’s English language proficiency test. (NC School Report Card)