Return on Investment

Our National Dropout Crisis

  • One high school student in the U.S. drops out every 26 seconds; that’s 1.1 million per year.1
  • 3 out of 10 of the nation’s high school students fail to finish high school with a diploma.2
  • Barely half of historically disadvantaged minority students graduate.3
  • 18.6% of Texas residents over age 24 (nearly 2 of every 10) do not have a high school degree.4
  • Over 135,100 students did not graduate from Texas’ high schools in 2010; the lost lifetime earnings in Texas for that class of dropouts alone total over $35 billion.5
At Communities In Schools Dallas Region, Inc. (CISDR) we believe success in the classroom is intrinsic to success in life. Too often societal, cultural, and academic factors exist that impedes a student’s progress.  CISDR helps students overcome these barriers, stay in school and graduate, prepared to become productive and contributing members of our communities.

What's at Stake?

Dropouts are more likely than high school graduates to be unemployed, incarcerated, in poor health, living in poverty and on public assistance. They are often single parents with children who drop out.

Dropouts earn $9,200 less per year than high school graduates and more than $1 million less over a lifetime than college graduates.6

Dropouts are more than eight times more likely to be incarcerated than high school graduates at the cost of $25,000 per year, per inmate.7


The Solution

CISDR successfully works In schools and makes sound fiscal sense for the Dallas region. For over 25 years, CISDR has served over 136,398 public school children with compelling results. In 2010-11 CISDR case managed over 12,148 students. The results, verified by the Texas Education Agency are, once again, compelling and convincing. Of those 12,148 case-managed students:

● 99% stayed in school
● 95% improved in academics, behavior and/or attendance
● 93% of eligible seniors graduated.


Return on Investment (ROI)

In the 2010-2011 academic year, 740 high school seniors who were capable, but underachieving were given the opportunity to realize their potential. With CISDR’s academic and social support they remained in school and graduated.

CISDR’s staff of dedicated professionals provided comprehensive individualized services and brought community resources into schools to meet the needs of these high school graduates at the annual cost of $500 per child. The $370,000 invested in these 740 students who remained in schools with CISDR’s help provides this ROI:
 
  • They will earn and contribute to Texas’ economy approximately $10.3 million more yearly than those who dropped out.
  • They will spend an additional $740,000 per year on vehicles and buy homes worth $15.3 million more than they would have likely spent without a diploma.
  • They will increase the gross regional product by $14.1 million each year.
  • They will pour nearly an additional $9.6 million annually into state and local coffers through increased spending and investments.

“To strengthen the vital connection between Texas schools and the communities they serve, the Texas Association of Business is proud to endorse the Communities In Schools State Program.”
— Bill Hammond, President, Texas Association of Business 

 

A Case Study
Esmeralda
2011

Esmeralda is an eighth grade student who came to CIS because “my teacher told me that if I could be in the program it might help me do better.” Like most students, she finds that “CIS is pretty fun. During lunch we meet together and do an experiment and learn about science. When we do experiments I learn a little bit more. I like that I can talk to them and that they help me.”

While CIS helps Esmeralda with her school work, CIS also provides support to her concerning issues outside of school. Esmeralda cares for her younger siblings at home, admitting that her responsibilities are often too much for a girl her age. “I once left school and CIS helped me to return and to deal with my home problems. That's why I trust CIS so much.”

CIS works with students to identify and overcome obstacles in their path so that they can continue to advance in their education. As Esmeralda knows, “without an education you're nobody. Well, you're somebody. You just don't have a good job. I know that because of my parents.” Hopefully CIS can continue to support Esmeralda so that she can grow up “to help people. I just want to finish school all the way and go to college.”



1. National Summit on America’s “Silent Epidemic”.  America’s Promise Alliance. 2/28/2008
2. Cities In Crisis 2009: Closing the Graduation Gap, Education and Economic Conditions in America’s Largest Cities. Editorial Projects in Education Research Center. 4/2009.
3. Ibid.
4. A Stronger Nation through Higher Education. Lumina Foundation for Education. 9/2011
5. Alliance for Excellent Education. 10/2010.
6. Gottlob, Brian J. “The High Cost of Failing to Reform Public Education in Texas”. Milton & Rose Friedman Foundation. Rev. 1/2008.
7. Ibid.