In Chicago, nearly 40,000 youth between the ages of 15 and 20 and approximately 97,000 youth ages 16 to 24 are high school dropouts. Without a high school diploma the implications for these youth, and for the community as a whole, are severe:

• School-to-Prison Pipeline: Youth dropouts are more likely to be involved in destructive interactions and illicit activities, making them prone to incarceration.
• Job Loss: They are less likely to receive skills and experience needed for employment, which also impacts the development of the future workforce.
• Tax Revenue Loss: Dropouts earn less over their lifetime which equates to fewer tax contributions for the community.
• Taxpayer Costs: Over the lifetime of each dropout, taxpayers bear the cost of approximately $290,000 due to loss of tax contributions, increased public assistance costs and correctional costs.