Alarming new data shows US LGBTQ+ students twice as likely to drop out of High School, costing economy more than $30 billion
LGBTQ+ students in the United States are dropping out of education at a rate of more than twice the national average.Ìý
The alarming new international study by the global children’s charity ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï suggests more than one in every 10 (11.6%) LGBTQ+ students in the U.S. do not complete high school, compared to 5.7% across the country’s education system.Ìý
The findings come from a team led by Justin van Fleet, PhD, President of ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï, which included Harvard’s Shelby Carvalho and Brown University’s Patrick Shaw.Ìý
The team applied data modelling on OECD and official government statistics across all 38 OECD member countries to estimate drop-out rates among LGBTQ+ students.Ìý
The projections show a drop-out rate of between 8.3% and 14% for LGBTQ+ high school students in the U.S., with a midpoint of 11.6%.Ìý
The national figure is higher than the nation’s most comparable neighbor, Canada, which has a projected drop-out rate of 9.9%.Ìý
The projection suggests more than 650,000 LGBTQ+ students currently aged 12-17 in the U.S. are at risk of not completing High School.Ìý
Researchers predict long-term economic consequences running into the billions, projecting each graduating class of LGBTQ+ students who leave school early costs the US economy up to $706 million.Ìý
Over a working lifetime, this equates to more than $30 billion for each cohort of students not graduating high school.Ìý
In some countries, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Turkey, Brazil, Spain, and Argentina, more than half of LGBTQ+ students are projected to leave school early if trends in the modelled countries hold true.Ìý
“When we fail to nurture all young people, we face not only a moral dilemma, but serious economic consequences"
Justin van Fleet PhD, President of global children's charity ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï
The startling figures build on earlier research, which revealed widespread bullying and discrimination in schools towards LGBTQ+ students in US High Schools.Ìý
In fact, more than half (52%) of the nation’s LGBTQ+ youth say they have faced hostility in educational settings, with 13% saying they were bullied by teachers or school administrators.Ìý
More than a third (38%) do not think US schools are safe environments for LGBTQ+ students.Ìý
Justin van Fleet PhD, President of global children’s charity ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï, said: “Historically, it has been difficult to pinpoint drop-out rates among LGBTQ+ students, so this data is likely to come as a shock to many.Ìý
“To see that so many LGBTQ+ students may not make it through the education system is incredibly alarming.Ìý
“It’s astonishing that young people identifying as LGBTQ+ are finding schools to be places of discrimination instead of tolerance, understanding, and safety.Ìý
“When we fail to nurture all young people, we face not only a moral dilemma, but serious economic consequences.â€Ìý