Published by the trade publication Education Week, the new study, which uses 2002 and 2003 data, the most current available, finds public schools graduate 69.6% of an estimated 4 million eligible students each spring, meaning about 1.2 million students likely won't graduate this year. That means about 7,000 students drop out per school day, Swanson says.
Eighteen percent of students are black, but they represent 27% of dropouts, Swanson finds. Hispanics account for 18% of students but for 24% of dropouts.
