Education
SLATE-Z sees education as a critical gateway to address poverty and wealth building due to the high percentage of people with low education rates in South Los Angeles, compared to the rest of LA County.
The South Los Angeles Promise Zone consists of educational assets (e.g., high schools, community college, university, etc.) that are working collaboratively to ensure that those institutions prepare South Los Angeles residents for the economic opportunities ahead.
SLATE-Z’s Education efforts are interrelated with its other levers of change: jobs, transit, public safety, and small business and entrepreneurship.
Key Takeaways
Career Technical Education
23%
23% of seniors in the South LA Promise Zone completed a Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathway in 2022, an increase from 6% in 2018.
During 2021 and 2022, more seniors in the South LA Promise Zone completed a CTE pathway than the LAUSD average.
College Credit Coursework
6%
6% of seniors in the South LA Promise Zone completed at least one semester of College Credit Coursework (CCC) in 2022, a decrease from 11% in the previous year.
High School Graduation
84%
In 2022, 84% of seniors in the South LA Promise Zone obtained a diploma. This graduation rate is in line with the LAUSD average.
College Credit Courses
6% of seniors in the South LA Promise Zone completed at least one semester of College Credit Coursework (CCC) in 2022, a decrease from 11% in the previous year.
Source:
California Department of Education (CDE) School Dashboards
Notes:
- Years are shown as the later year in an academic calendar, for example “2021” represents the 2020 – 2021 academic year.
- Students are considered to have completed a College Credit Course (CCC) with a grade of C- or better in academic or Career Technical Education (CTE) subjects where college credit is awarded.
- CCC completion rates are shown as a share of seniors, defined as students who are in their fourth or fifth year of high school.
People who do not pursue education beyond high school are less likely to be employed a decade later than people who completed at least some college, regardless of whether or not they completed the degree 1. The monetary benefits of attending even some college vary depending on on how much longer the student stays in school 2. For those who have completed some college, each additional year of college is associated with a higher median income3. Although students who earn their degree earn more than those who leave college before attaining a credential, any completed credits are still valuable and improve earnings.
Graduation Rate
In 2022, 84% of seniors in the South LA Promise Zone obtained a diploma. This graduation rate is in line with the LAUSD average.
Source:
California Department of Education (CDE) School Dashboards
Notes:
- Years are shown as the later year in an academic calendar, for example “2021” represents the 2020 – 2021 academic year.
- Graduation rate includes students who graduated in four or five years with a traditional high school diploma in the selected academic year. These graduates are: Fourth-year graduates from the most current graduation class, and Fifth-year graduates from the prior graduation class.
A high school diploma is the minimum requirement asked by approximately 67% of employers in the United States 4. Students who dropout of high school are more likely to have a lower annual and lifetime income than students who graduate with a high school diploma and are more likely to experience periodic unemployment 5. High school dropout rates are higher in marginalized groups, particularly Black people, Latino/as, and immigrants 6.
Career Technical Education
- 23% of seniors in the South LA Promise Zone have completed a Career Technical Education Pathway, an increase from 6% of seniors in 2018.
- From 2020 to 2022, more seniors in the South LA Promise Zone completed a CTE pathway than the LAUSD average.
Source:
California Department of Education (CDE) School Dashboards
Notes:
- Years are shown as the later year in an academic calendar, for example “2021” represents the 2020 – 2021 academic year.
- Students are considered to have completed a CTE Pathway with a grade of C- or better (or Pass) in the capstone course. CTE completion is shown as a share of seniors, defined as students who are in their fourth or fifth year of high school.
Career technical education (CTE) integrates academic knowledge with technical skills and occupational knowledge to prepare students for careers and postsecondary education7. CTE is linked to higher graduation rates if received in high school, as it helps students see value in education and how it can directly apply to their careers8. Providing hands-on training allows students to explore multiple career paths and different options. CTE can also be as valuable as bachelor’s degrees despite being half the cost and time as four-year colleges 9. It is estimated that over 16 million jobs created between 2010 and 2020 required education and training beyond high school but less than a bachelor’s degree 10. Technical and soft-skills training are more transferable between jobs, and the need for them in the job market is rising as employment opportunities increase.
- "The Value of an Incomplete Degree"
- "Higher Education Earnings Premium"
- "Can 'Some College' Help Reduce Future Earnings Inequality?"
- "Degree Inflation: How the Four Year Degree Became Required"
- "What is the Impact of High School Graduation Rates?"
- "The Distribution of Dropout and Turnover Rates Among Urban and Suburban High Schools"
- "California Department of Education"
- "Linking the Timing of Career and Technical Education Course Taking with High School Dropout and College-Going Behavior"
- "CTE Works" Research
- "Recovery: Job Growth and Education Requirements Through 2020"
