HIGH-SCHOOL COMPLETION - THE INFLUENCE OF SCHOOLS, FAMILIES, AND ADOLESCENT PARENTING

Objective. This article examines the determinants of high school compl etion. It is the first study to examine simultaneously the effects of individual characteristics, family background, school resources, stude nt body characteristics, and labor market conditions. Methods. We use multivariate methods and data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Labor Market Experience-Youth Cohort to examine these relationships f or men and women. Results. We find that school characteristics are onl y tenuously related to school completion. When significant relationshi ps exist, the magnitude of the effects of school resources are small r elative to the impacts of family background or individual characterist ics, including adolescent parenting and ability. Conclusions. Among th e individual characteristics that play a key role in determining the p robability of on-time high school graduation is teenage parenting. Bot h genders suffer adverse consequences of adolescent parenting via redu ced educational attainment, which ultimately affects their marketabili ty, earning capabilities, and ability to support their children. This suggests that schools and other institutions should take strong measur es to postpone parenting on the part of teens.