Youth Programs
People have better, healthier, more fulfilling lives when they have a good education. In today's economy, that means a high school diploma and at least one year of post high school education.
United Way of King County supports youth programs that:
- Develop and strengthen academic skills
- Support at-risk students to make academic progress
- Enable parents and guardians to participate in children's learning
- Build and strengthen skills in youth that support positive development
- Educate youth about behaviors and skills that foster violence-free interactions
- Teach youth with emotional and behavioral disturbances how to cope effectively
The social costs of a high dropout rate: a dropout is more than 8 times as likely to be in jail or prison as a person with at least a high school diploma. A drop out is earning less, contributing to the economy at a lower rate, and paying fewer or no taxes, and more often dependent
on government assistance. Lifetime cost to the nation for each youth who drops out of school and later moves into a life of crime and drugs ranges from $1.7 to $2.3 million.
When youth succeed in school, graduate on time and learn the skills they need to thrive and be successful, our entire community benefits.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY
Graduation rate
The on-time graduation rate for high school students in King County in 2009 was 80.5 percent. In other words, 19.5 percent of students who entered the 9th grade in September of 2005 failed to graduate as scheduled in June of 2009. That means that about one in 5 students didn't graduate on-time.
