Our Work

United Way is Working to Improve High School Graduation

Graduating from high school has a profound effect on economic and social success for students in adulthood and the community. According to the measure used by the State Department of Education, in 2005 only 79.3 percent of high school students in Greenville County schools (approximately 1,000 students), graduated within four years.

Students who graduate increase their chances for lifetime success.

Students who do not graduate:

  • Average $9,200 a year less in annual salary
  • Are twice as likely to be unemployed than a high school graduate
  • Are 2.5 times more likely to live in poverty
  • Are 3.5 times more likely to be incarcerated

There is no single reason why students drop out of high school. Respondents report different reasons: a lack of connection to the school environment; a perception that school is boring; feeling unmotivated; academic challenges; inadequate responses to circumstances that lead to school drop out; teen pregnancy.

What United Way Is Doing to Impact High School Graduation

United Way is taking a three-pronged approach to this issue with a goal of defining strategies and best practices that will lead to systemic change in our most underserved communities, and ultimately, produce an increase in the graduation rate. 

Our approach hinges on three issues that are critical to high school graduation:

  1. The implementation of an After School Strategic Initiative
  2. The development of a system to support the education of teen mothers and their children, including parenting skills and life skills education
  3. An increase in support for early reading and intervention programs

Challenges/Opportunities

Increasing the number of children who graduate from high school in four years is a tremendous challenge for our community and one that is laden with both obstacles and opportunities. Our ability to clearly and succinctly raise awareness about this issue, to work hand in hand with existing initiatives (Graduate Greenville and Greenville County Schools initiatives), to fully embrace the current condition of our community’s youth, and to become advocates on behalf of our young people is pivotal if we are to meet our long term goals.