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education can make a huge difference in your life — and your family's.
It can open doors of opportunity, financially and personally. Explore the information on this page to learn more about your potential to succeed from a local, state, and national perspective.
Why Education is Important for Jobs in Philadelphia and Nationally
For local and state data, click here. For national data, click here.
Find out
what going to college can mean for you:
Boost your earnings
more education = more opportunity
Find your passion
endless possibilities
Prove your potential
you can succeed
Grow with help and support
lots of resources are there for you
Lift your family
help to get them in your corner
Thinking Of Dropping Out Of School?
Well, before you do, read this and then think again.
On average, high school dropouts make about $9.40 an hour. That sounds like pretty good money
– and it is when you’re only 16 or 18 years old. But what about when you’re 30? Or 40?
That’s what you have to look forward to if you drop out of school - $9.40 an hour. That’s
just $18,800 per year. Not bad for an 18 year old kid, but it’s POVERTY
for an adult – especially an adult with a family.
Now, what happens if you finish high school? Well, on average high school graduates earn
about $13.65 an hour. How does an extra four-and-a-quarter an hour sound? Not great? No
big deal? Think again.
That’s not just an extra four bucks for ONE hour. It’s an extra four bucks for
every hour you work. It’s an extra
$150 a week – for the rest of your life! That’s an extra
$300,000 over the years you will be working. And since high school
graduates have more job opportunities than dropouts, you’ll also have a
better chance of getting a job that interests you. Now, doesn’t that
beat living your life in poverty and working at a job you hate?
Yes, school can be hard. It’s a lot of work, and there are lots of rules that you may not
like. But understand this – THE MORE YOU LEARN, THE MORE YOU EARN. Education is your key to
financial security, and dropping out of school now will affect you for the rest of your life.
And don’t bet on getting your GED – that’s even harder to get than a diploma!
So play it smart. Finish school.
And while you’re at it, think about
going to college. People who have gone to college, even just for two years, have more job
opportunities and make more money than high school graduates.
So, are you still thinking of dropping out? Think again – dropping
out is not a very good option. Talk with a parent, teacher, counselor, coach, minister, friend,
or anyone else you trust to help you make a good decision. Do what you need to do and get the
help you need to finish high school.
Remember, the more you learn the more you earn!