11 Facts about Education in America

1. A high school dropout earns about $260,000 less over a lifetime than a high school graduate.
2. High school dropouts have a life expectancy 9.2 years shorter than high school graduates.
3. A one-year increase in average years of schooling for dropouts would reduce murder and assault rates by almost 30%, motor vehicle theft by 20%, arson by 13%, and burglary and larceny by about 6%.
4. There will be a shortfall of seven million college-educated workers in America by 2012.
5. College graduates are three times more likely to vote than high school dropouts, and those who earn more are far more likely to be affiliated with a political organization.
6. During the 1995-2004 period, the combined expenditures for K-12 school building improvements—including new construction, renovation, major maintenance and repairs, land, and equipment— were approximately $504 billion. However, even after, public school facilities, particularly in low-wealth communities, have still have significant deficiencies.
7. In fall 2007, approximately 49 million students were enrolled in about 97,000 public schools.
8. About a quarter of public schools report at least one type of onsite building in less than adequate condition, and four out of ten reported at least one unsatisfactory environmental condition.
9. Approximately one-fifth of schools have less than adequate conditions for life safety features, roofs and electrical power.
10. Three-quarters of the nation's schools, or 59,400, report needing repairs, renovations or modernization in order to reach good condition.
11. The average amount of repair or modernization needed per school is $2.2 million, or $3,800 per student.

Sources:
Teachers College : Columbia University
Report Card for America’s Infrastructure