In our opinion: Dropout rate alarming

The new report on Utah's graduation rates was issued last week. It said Caucasian students in the class of 2008 posted a 91 percent graduation rate while for Asian students it was 89 percent; it was 86 percent for Pacific Islanders; 73 percent for African-Americans and 72 percent among American Indian students.

Hispanics lagged behind with a 69 percent graduation rate, down three percentage points from the previous year. Students with limited English proficiency had a 65 percent graduation rate, down 10 percentage points from 2007.

None of this is new. But the trends are not positive. Other than Caucasians, whose graduation rate slightly improved, and the rate for Pacific Islanders, which was unchanged, graduation rates for every ethnic group dropped from the previous year.

This is disturbing, particularly as Utah becomes increasingly diverse. The world of work views a high school diploma as a minimum requirement for most entry-level jobs. Utah schools must do better by these students.

Yes, there are still jobs for people who do not have high school diplomas, but they are low-skill, low-pay, dead-end jobs. Some are also highly dangerous. These are jobs, not careers, which generally means there are no benefits.

Meanwhile, the lifetime earnings of a person with a bachelor's degree are estimated to be twice that of a high school dropout, according to census figures. People with advanced education generally enjoy lower rates of unemployment, too.

Beyond personal earning potential, the nation needs more workers who have post-secondary training and education. Otherwise, countries that have held up educational attainment (particularly in math and science) as national priorities are poised to eat our lunch, as New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman is wont to write.

Being a world leader in technology and innovation will require an increase in college graduates, particularly in math, science and engineering. But none of that is possible without the fundamental building block — graduation from high school with sufficient skills to go on to post-secondary training or college.

Far too many Utah students are not advancing from square one. These trends continue at the peril of those individuals and the nation as a whole.