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Learn More About The Issue
Nationwide, there is a 28% gap in the graduation rate between black males and their white counterparts. Over the last few years however this gap has narrowed, so we know with dedicated attention to the issues, the disparity in performance and graduation can be successfully addressed.
Below are statistics and information reflecting on several factors including environment, school conditions, family life, personal and emotional health that effect the education of African-American males.
According to findings in the Breaking Barriers: Plotting the Path to Academic Success for School-age African-American Males (PDF): *
- African-Americans males reared in homes with more financial resources are more likely to perform well in school.
- Parents who help their children with homework, who are comfortable talking with teachers and who urge them to do well and maintained high expectations generally have higher-performing children.
- Only 20 to 25% of white students report fatherless homes in comparison with 56 to 60% of black students.
- African-American and poor students are 70% more likely than their white and affluent peers to have a teacher who isn’t certified in English, math, science, and social studies.
- The number of out of school suspensions given to Black Male students in New jersey was equivalent to fifteen percent of New Jersey’s Black, non-Hispanic male student population.
- Across three national surveys, high-achieving black male students perceive their teachers as respectful, building up their strengths and not making them “feel bad” about their weaknesses.
- Results indicate that black males aspiring to go to college are significantly more likely to perform better at school.
- Black male students perform best in environments they perceive as safe. Low-achieving black male students are more than likely to carry a weapon to school for self-defense than middle or high achieving black male students.
- African-American males are more likely to spend time in a detention center or jail than any other race. Surveys show that involvement in the juvenile justice system impairs academic achievement among black males.
According to findings in the 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males: *
- States with the highest high school graduation rates among black males in 2006 were:
North Dakota - 89%
Vermont - 88%
Maine - 85%
Arizona - 81%
New Jersey - 74% - States with the lowest high school graduation rates for black males in 2006 were:
Michigan - 33%
Wisconsin - 36%
Louisiana - 38%
South Carolina - 38%
Florida - 38%
New York - 39% - Graduation rates ranking of 8 cities with largest Black male enrollments out of 63 cities:
#5 Prince George County 51,845 #20 Philadelphia 60,838 #29 Los Angeles 41,598 #39 Broward County 52,537 #41 Chicago 102,185 #44 Memphis 52,720 #53 New York City 159,555 #61 Detroit 102,185
* Research findings will change every 2 weeks to provide more information on the key factors in addressing the issue.
