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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
- Fifty percent of African American and Hispanic youth fail to graduate on time.2
- U.S. Public Schools are losing 6,829 students per day, and in Texas, 656 students drop out every school day: one of every ten in the nation per day!3
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.4 |
| 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.5 |
| In Texas 119,000 students dropped out in 2007-08, costing $19 billion in lost tax revenues and increased costs in public health, crime and welfare payments.6 |
The Solution
CISDR successfully works In schools and makes sound fiscal sense for the Dallas region. For almost 25 years, CISDR has served over 500,000 public school children with compelling results. During the 2007-08 school year:
Case-Managed
Students |
Remained
in School |
Improved in
Academics |
Improved
Behavior/
Attendance |
Eligible
Seniors
Graduated |
| 10.085 |
97%
|
82% |
88%
|
95%
|
Return on Investment (ROI)
Over the past three academic years, 799 high school seniors who were bright 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 $399,500 invested in these 799 students provides this ROI:
- They will earn and contribute to Texas’ economy approximately $7.3 million more yearly than those who dropped out.
- They will save taxpayers $19.9 million in the costs associated with being incarcerated for one year.
- They will save Texans $127 million in lost tax revenues and increased costs in public health, crime and welfare payments each year.
A Case Study
Priscilla
2008
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Before CISDR:
- Was very bright, but lacked self esteem and confidence in her ability to graduate from high school and go on to college.
- Lived with an older brother and mother.
- Had many dysfunctional family problems related to her father’s incarceration.
- Faced numerous barriers to staying in school as her family struggled to make ends meet.
| Communities In Schools Dallas Region Campus professionals provided one-on-one academic and social support, assistance with family issues, and preparation for the transition from high school to college. |
After CISDR:
- Attended orientation at Texas Women’s University where she will major in nursing.
- Found that she was not out of place in a college setting.
- Welcomed her father’s release from jail in time for her graduation
- Watched as her father personally thanked the CISDR staff for helping his family.
- Became the first in her family to go to college.
1. National Summit on America’s “Silent Epidemic”. America’s Promise Alliance. 2/28/2008
2. Ibid.
3. Editorial Projects in Education Research Center, edweek, 6/2008
4. America’s Promise Alliance. 2/28/2008.
5. Ibid.
6. Gottlob, Brian J. “The High Cost of Failing to Reform Public Education in Texas”. Milton & Rose Friedman Foundation. Rev. 1/2008.
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