In 2004, a high school dropout earned only 37 cents for each dollar earned by an individual with at least a high school education.(An Evaluation of the Economic Benefits of High School Education page 6)
Average earnings for a high school dropout (in Ohio) are $17,748, nearly $10,000 less than a high school graduate.(An Evaluation of the Economic Benefits of High School Education page 5)
it is possible that criminal behavior is characterized by strong state dependence, so that the probability of committing crime today depends on the amount of crime committed in the past. By keeping youth off the street and occupied during the day, school attendance may have long-lasting effects on criminal participation.(The Effect of Education on Crime: Evidence from Prison Inmates, Arrests, and Self-Reports∗ page 5)
Lack of education can lead to poverty and poverty to crime. There is almost always an exception to the rule, but high school overall seems to be at LEAST beneficial to society as a place to understand and grow.
In Ohio, the median earning for a high school dropout is $17,748 per year. In contrast to the median earnings of a high school graduate at just over $26,207 per year, graduates earn 47.7 percent more than dropouts.(An Evaluation of the Economic Benefits of High School Education page 10)
In Ohio, the expected increase in economic output
for each additional high school graduate is equal to at least $10,079 (An Evaluation of the Economic Benefits of High School Education page 11)
The Effect of Education on Crime: Evidence from Prison Inmates, Arrests, and Self-Reports∗
Lance Lochner Department of Economics University of Western Ontario
Enrico Moretti Department of Economics UCLA