Houston Less Than 50% Graduate

Barbara Pytel, Paulline Larson Photography

Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Jan 4, 2008

Enough Is Enough

Jamie Story, Houston Chronicle, made comments on Houston’s high drop out rates and has asked citizens to consider school choice as an alternative to the problem.

Is Houston the only major city in Texas with such appalling graduation rates? No, San Antonio and Dallas are right behind Houston. 93 students drop out of Texas public schools -- each hour of every day.

School Choice Research

Researcher Jay Greene of the Manhattan Institute found that when parents are allowed school choice the graduation rates improve. How does school choice work?

For every student that chooses to attend a private school, there is $5000 to $13,000 that does not go to the public school. Instead, a "reduced amount" of funding follows the student to the private school. Actually, the voucher system is a savings to taxpayers. School vouchers recently failed in Utah.

Story states that the voucher system creates competition and both the private and public sector improve. Lack of competition often produces apathy.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee has the oldest voucher system in the U.S. and the program has been a great cost saving to taxpayers. And Milwaukee’s public school graduation rates have improved under the 16 years of school choice.

Story issues the challenge to give school choice a chance in Texas.

Source: Jamie Story, chron.com, Jan. 29, 2007

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