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Why Was ENCORE Created?
Many students leave high school [in the US] without the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century information economy*.
Each year, more than 1.2 million students do not graduate with the peers, and the best available research shows that millions more graduate unprepared for post secondary education*.
Graduate rates for Hispanic and African-American students are dramatically lower than the national average*.
High School graduation is a strong predictor of economic and social mobility. Dropouts earn less than high school graduates and are more likely to end up in prison, on welfare, or dependent on social services*.
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that 87 percent of new jobs in fast-growing, high-wage fields will require some post secondary education. In the last 10 years, technical changes have pushed the education payoff dramatically in favor of those with more skills and more education*.
A high school diploma was once a ticket to the American Dream: a steady job that could launch a career that would support a family and raise a family's living standard. Times have changed. High School is no longer enough. In today's world, a college diploma has become as important as a high school diploma used to be. Success in the 21st century demand skills, attitudes, and abilities that make some form of postsecondary education a virtual requirement*.
Only 71 percent of American students earn a high school diploma, a figure that drops to 58 percent for Hispanic students.
Only 53 percent of Americans earn some degree or credential after high school, a figure that drops to about 20 percent for low-income, Hispanic and African-American students. For these young students, having the will and not the way impedes their economic and personal progress*.
Only about half of college students in the United States graduate within six years. The rate for Hispanic and African-American students is closer to 20 percent. And among community college students, the rate is even lower*.
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