What would be a cause for the increase in graduation rates?

Question

I'm doing a research project and I've discovered that over the past decade the overall high school completion rate has increased, including for each specific race. What could I say a sociological factor for this is?

Answer 1

The main factor is that there are much fewer jobs available domestically for applicants that only have a high school degree. Modern careers demand an education and critical thinking skills much more than the vocations of the industrial period (the skills needed then for factory jobs were dexterity and brawn - stuff that they don't teach in school). A bachelor's degree means as much today as a high school degree did a long time ago. So if a student hasn't even finished high school, it's going to be almost impossible to compete for a job.

Answer 2

There has been a big push to help kids stay in school including public service announcements by celebrities that are popular with teens, funding for after school homework help, breakfast at school, better education for teachers.  It isn't any one thing in particular, but a combined effort on several fronts, as well as the economic factors.