The Gender Gap in High School Completion and Dropout Rates

A new report from the U.S. Department of Education includes data on the gender gap in school dropout rates.

The report found that 5.4 percent of male students in the 10th through 12th grades dropped out of school between October 2013 and October 2014. For young women the figure was 5.0 percent. Some of these students undoubtedly came back to school at a later date.

In 2014, 7.1 percent of all men ages 16 through 24 were not enrolled in school and did not have a high school diploma or equivalent certificate. For women the figure was 5.9 percent.

The report also notes that 91.8 percent of all men ages 18 to 24 in 2014 had completed high school compared to 93.1 percent of women.

The full report, Trends in High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 2014, may be downloaded by clicking here.