Health is Vital for Student Success: An Overview of Relevant Research | Page 8

Reducing Violence
One Classroom
at a Time

High School Graduation

establish daily physical education

Only 78.2 percent of American students graduate from high school on time35 and

throughout the district after

less than 40 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds have a postsecondary degree.36 The

seeing how it reduced violence

likelihood of attaining a high school diploma is not equally distributed among

and improved test scores nearly

youths. Students of color, from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, with

overnight at one of his inner-city

disabilities, and those who are English Language Learners, migrant, or homeless

elementary schools.

are less likely to graduate from high school in four years and also experience

The superintendent of schools
in Kansas City, Mo., decided to

Graduating from high school is a major determinant of both future health and
prosperity. In general, adults who do not earn a high school diploma tend to
have lower paying jobs and are at greater risk for living in poverty, lacking health
insurance, being incarcerated, and having poor health outcomes.32,33,34

increased health problems.
Student health problems associated with dropout include substance use; teen
pregnancy; and psychological, emotional, and behavioral problems.37
•  0 percent of teen girls who have dropped out of high school cite pregnancy or
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parenthood as a key reason. Rates are even higher for African-American and
Latino girls—38 percent and 36 percent, respectively.38 Children of teen parents
also start school at a disadvantage, including having lower levels of school
readiness at kindergarten.39
•  national survey found that youths who had dropped out of school were more
A
likely than youths of similar age who were still in school to engage in current
cigarette use, alcohol use, binge alcohol use, marijuana use, nonmedical use of
psychotherapeutic drugs, and use of any illicit drugs.40
•  ne study found that emotional health challenges influence school completion
O
as early as primary school, and the relationship was even greater in high school.
Students with emotional health challenges (anxiety, depression, and conduct
disorders) and substance use, abuse, or dependence were more likely to drop
out of high school. In fact, students who used drugs or alcohol were nearly three
times more likely to drop out of school.41

Removing Health Barriers
Increases Learning Success
Research confirms that health is a vital
learning support, but the sheer number
of challenges facing students may
seem insurmountable for some schools.
However, research from Washington
found consistent and strong associations
between a number of health factors and
student achievement.

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