Employed

Per Capita Income

Above Poverty

Economic

Preschool Enrollment

Bachelor's Education

High School Enrollment

Education

Voting

Census Response

Social

Automobile Access

Active Commuting

Transportation

Insured Adults

Healthcare Access

Retail Density

Park Access

Tree Canopy

Neighborhood

Severely Cost Burdened Low-Income Renters

Severely Cost Burdened Low-Income Homeowners

Housing Habitability

Uncrowded Housing

Homeownership

Housing

Ozone

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

Diesel Particulate Matter

Safe Drinking Water

Clean Environment

Extreme Heat

Impervious Surfaces

Outdoor Workers

Public Transit Access

Sea Level Rise

Two Parent Households

Alcohol Availability

Supermarket Access

Decision Support

Every school-age youth should have educational opportunities that prepare them for higher education, a career and the future of their choice. Education is linked to increased life expectancy and reduced chronic disease rates, infant mortality and other negative health outcomes. Education contributes to health in many ways: high school graduates are more likely to find quality jobs with living wages and decent working conditions; school-based learning contributes to the knowledge and cognitive skills necessary to make healthy choices; and students learn social and physiological benefiting behaviors including problem solving, teamwork, self-control, social support, and life skills. High school graduation rates vary across California—reflecting historic and often persistent funding inequities in places with fewer resources and social power, such as African American/Black, Latino, working class communities, and those with low-English proficiency.

This indicator measures the percentage of 15-17 year-olds enrolled in high school.

Schweinhart, “The High/Scope Perrry Preschool Study Through Age 40: Summary, Conclusions, and Frequently Asked Questions.”

Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative, “Applying Social Determinants of Health Indicator Data for Advancing Healthy Equity,” 2015, https://www.barhii.org/sdoh-indicator-guide.

California Child Care Programs Local Assistance—All Funds. California Department of Finance, 2014–2015 Budget Act.

American Institutes for Research, “Early Learning Needs Assessment Tool,” 2010.

First Five Association of California, “A Health Beginning for Young California Kids: Universal Developmental and Behavioral Screening,” n.d., https://www.childrennow.org/files/9314/2912/4344/dev-screening-infographic.pdf.

Jelleyman, T. and N. Spencer. (2008). Residential Mobility in Childhood and Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

Gilman, S. E., Kawachi, I., Fitzmaurice, G. M., & Buka S.L. (2003). Socio-economic Status, Family Disruption and Residential Stability in Childhood: Relation to Onset, Recurrence and Remission of Major Depression. Psychological Medicine, 33 (8), 1341-1355.

Cohen, R., & Wardrip, K. (2009). Should I Stay or Should I go? Exploring the Effects of Housing Instability and Mobility on Children. Center for Housing Policy. Retrieved from http://www.nhc.org/media/files/HsgInstablityandMobility.pdf

L Sutcher, L Darling-Hammond, and D Carver-Thomas, “A Coming Crisis in Teaching? Teacher Supply, Demand, and Shortages in the U.S.” (Learning Policy Institute, 2016).

D Carver-Thomas and L Darling-Hammond, “California Special Education Teacher Shortages Grow More Severe” (Learning Policy Institute, 2017).

Improving high-school enrollment requires a range of policies designed to ensure that school systems are designed to equitably and effectively serve all students, that education is of the highest quality, and that schools are healthy and safe places to learn.

Perhaps the most fundamental action that local jurisdictions can take to improve educational outcomes is to 

, to help reverse current inequities and ensure that all California students have the support they need to graduate. This is especially important for young children, as studies show that learning opportunities in early years are crucial for academic success. To help kids get a head start, local jurisdictions and districts should 

Foster Community, Parent and Youth Participation

. Engaged communities and families ensure that education systems are responsive, relevant, powerful, and integrated with broader community transformation initiatives.

Quality teaching and social supports are also important ingredient in successful educational systems. Local jurisdictions should 

, especially for children who may fall behind. These supports are an essential tool in closing gaps in educational success for students of color, low-income students and others. Educational success also depends on attracting, retaining, and supporting quality educators and leaders, so local jurisdictions should 

Improve Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

 to ensure that every student has access to a full range of opportunities.

Students learn best when schools are healthy and safe. Local jurisdictions and schools should work to 

 through healthy food, physical activity, safety and other supports. They should also 

Create a Safe and Supportive School Climate

, which has been linked to improved emotional behavioral and emotional outcomes.

Data can be collected, shared, analyzed and used to identify community needs and prioritize strategies to advance equity.

Healthy Neighborhoods

Climate

Health

Equity

Strong Evidence

Collect, Analyze, and Use Disaggregated Data

Best Practice

Track Impact Data

Academic and social supports are an essential tool in closing gaps in educational success for students of color, low-income students and others.

Career Supports

Emerging

Close the Digital Divide

Community Power and Connection

Social and Emotional Supports

Early Warning and Intervention Systems

Academic Supports

To achieve academic success, students need healthy food, physical activity, and other supports for healthy bodies and minds.

Healthy and Free/Affordable School Breakfast and Lunch Programs

Sufficient Evidence

Health-Attendance Partnerships

School-Based Health Centers

Safe, Stable, and Affordable Housing 

School Wellness Policies

Health and Physical Education

School funding often flows inequitably to higher-income districts and schools. Ensuring more equitable distribution of resources can help reverse these inequities and ensure that all California students have the support they need to graduate.

Promising

Manage Charters and School Choice to Promote Equity.

Local Control Funding Formula

Manage tracking and ensure every student has educational opportunities that prepare them for college, career and the future of their choice.

College and Career Readiness

Manage Tracking to Promote Equity

Studies show that learning opportunities in our early years are crucial for academic success.

Free Development Screening

Transitional Kindergarten

Universal Low or No-Cost Preschool and Childcare

A positive school climate has been linked to improved emotional behavioral and emotional outcomes.

Restorative Justice Programs

End Punitive Discipline

Physical Activity

Violence Prevention and Safety

Sanctuary and Supportive Schools

Engaged communities and families ensure that education systems are responsive, relevant, powerful, and integrated with broader community transformation initiatives.

Parent Engagement and Advocacy Programs

Community Schools

Youth Development and Advocacy Programs

Collective Impact Initiatives

Educational success depends on attracting, retaining, and supporting quality educators and leaders.

Policy Guide

High School Enrollment

References