High School Graduation Rate

The High School Graduation Rate indicator measures the number of students entering neighborhood schools who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma. High school graduation rates have been linked to several factors related to health outcomes: students who graduate are less likely to engage in unhealthy behavior such as drug and alcohol abuse, incur early pregnancies, or participate in criminal activity. Dropping out of school before obtaining a high school diploma is associated with delayed employment opportunities, poverty, and poor health, while graduating from high school is associated with improved economic stability and income. In fact, the report, Poverty in the United States: 2008, finds that 34.7% of adults 25-34 years old without a high school diploma were living in poverty in 2008, compared to 16.7% of individuals whose highest level of educational attainment was a high school diploma. Data for the High School Graduation Rate is available from the Alabama State Department of Education.

Neighborhoodsort descending Indicator Value Rank
Acipco-Finley 78.4% 46
Airport Highlands 77.2% 53
Apple Valley 80.0% 25
Arlington - West End 80.6% 15
Belview Heights 75.8% 65
Bridlewood 80.0% 25
Brown Springs 72.4% 86
Brownsville Heights 80.0% 25
Brummitt Heights 80.0% 25
Bush Hills 78.0% 50
Central City 74.1% 80
Central Park 80.0% 25
Central Pratt 75.8% 65
College Hills 80.6% 15
Collegeville 75.9% 57
Crestline 72.4% 86
Crestwood North 72.4% 86
Crestwood South 72.4% 86
Dolomite 80.0% 25
Druid Hills 75.9% 57
East Avondale 72.4% 86
East Birmingham 74.1% 80
East Brownville 85.9% 1
East Lake 72.4% 86
East Thomas 80.6% 15
Eastwood 72.4% 86
Echo Highlands 80.0% 25
Enon Ridge 80.6% 15
Ensley 75.8% 65
Ensley Highlands 75.8% 65
Evergreen 78.4% 46
Fairmont 75.9% 57
Fairview 75.8% 65
Five Points South 78.4% 46
Forest Park 74.1% 80
Fountain Heights 75.9% 57
Garden Highlands 85.9% 1
Gate City 72.4% 86
Germania Park 80.0% 25
Glen Iris 78.4% 46
Grasselli Heights 85.9% 1
Graymont 80.6% 15
Green Acres 75.8% 65
Harriman Park 75.9% 57
Highland Park 75.9% 57
Hillman 85.9% 1
Hillman Park 75.8% 65
Hooper City 80.9% 14
Huffman 80.0% 25
Industrial Center 85.9% 1
Inglenook 74.1% 80
Jones Valley 80.0% 25
Killough Springs 80.0% 25
Kingston 72.4% 86
Liberty Highlands 80.0% 25
Maple Grove 80.0% 25
Mason City 83.0% 12
North Avondale 72.4% 86
North Birmingham 75.9% 57
North East Lake 77.2% 53
North Pratt 75.8% 65
North Titusville 80.6% 15
Norwood 75.9% 57
Oak Ridge 75.8% 65
Oak Ridge Park 72.4% 86
Oakwood Place 80.2% 24
Overton 80.0% 25
Oxmoor 85.9% 1
Penfield Park 80.0% 25
Pine Knoll Vista 80.0% 25
Powderly 85.9% 1
Redmont Park 74.1% 80
Riley 80.0% 25
Rising - West Princeton 78.0% 50
Roebuck 80.0% 25
Roebuck Springs 77.2% 53
Roosevelt 85.9% 1
Sandusky 75.8% 65
Sherman Heights 75.8% 65
Smithfield 80.6% 15
Smithfield Estates 75.8% 65
South East Lake 77.2% 53
South Pratt 75.8% 65
South Titusville 80.6% 15
South Woodlawn 72.4% 86
Southside 74.1% 80
Spring Lake 80.0% 25
Sun Valley 80.0% 25
Tarpley City 85.9% 1
Thomas 78.0% 50
Tuxedo 75.8% 65
Wahouma 72.4% 86
West Brownville 85.9% 1
West End Manor 83.0% 12
West Goldwire 85.9% 1
Woodland Park 80.6% 15
Woodlawn 72.4% 86
Wylam 75.8% 65
Zion City 80.0% 25

Key Citations:
1. Backlund E, Sorlie PD, Johnson NJ. A comparison of the relationships of education and income with mortality: the National Longitudinal Mortality Study. Soc Sci Med. 1999;49(10):1373-84.
2. U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. 2000. Healthy People 2010: Understanding and improving health. 2nd edition. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.
3. California Dropout Research Project. April 2009. How California's Dropout Crisis Affects Communities. Economic Losses for the City of San Francisco. UC Santa Barbara, Gevirtz Graduate School of Education. http://cdrp.ucsb.edu/
4. U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008; Current Population Report No. P60-235.