High Schools Tailored to Adults Can Help Them Complete a Traditional Diploma and Excel in the Labor Market

Abstract

More than 18 million adults in the US have no high school credential. Full diplomas are less common for adults than GEDs but potentially more valuable. A network of high schools helps adults graduate by providing a tailored curriculum, coaching for non-academic barriers, onsite child care, and transportation. After 5 years, earnings increase by 38% more for graduates than applicants who do not enroll. We address selection by conditioning on 5 years of pre-application earnings and comparing to students who exit after positive shocks. Human capital is a mechanism. Graduates receive more credentials and switch from hospitality to healthcare jobs.

Keywords: high school dropout, high school diploma, returns to education, human capital, GED

JEL Classification: I24, I26, J24