By Associated Press
Mobile, AL – Officials told a group gathered in Mobile that while the county's schools have made significant strides in recent years, the graduation rate must be improved.
The remarks were made Thursday during an Education Summit organized by the Mobile Area Education Foundation.
Richard Hayes, dean of the University of South Alabama's College of Education, said about 3,000 students drop out of the states largest school system each year. He said that winds up costing the local economy about $1 billion, including the average $287,000 salary they would have made over a lifetime with a diploma.
The foundation says the Mobile County Public School System has a 45 percent drop-out rate, while 63 percent of jobs available in 2018 will require a diploma and some college credit.