iCare Launch Party - You're Invited!!

Want to learn more about the reasons why students are dropping out of school? Want to know what affects the drop-out rate has on our community and the students themselves? Want to help improve the high school graduation rates in Marion County?


Students are dropping out of high school at record numbers. The high school drop-out rate in Marion County is more than 27% - that’s one in four of our students. Students’ number one reason for dropping out of school is because they feel that no one cares. They do not have a caring adult; parent, teacher, mentor, etc. to help motivate them to stay in school and believe in them. Another reason why students drop-out is because of frustration of catching up; they are under credit and over age. They do not know how to catch up when they fall behind.

Dropping out has a significant impact on the future lives of these students. Students who drop-out of high school will earn an average amount of $10,000 a year less than individuals that graduate from high school. Because of this, drop-outs are likely to need supportive services from government such as health care, food stamps, and other welfare – which increase the tax dollars on the community at large. Often times drop-outs turn to crime in order to feed and house their families, which lead to increased costs on the juvenile and criminal justice system.

If we as a community work together to increase the graduation rates, we would see a significant positive impact. For example, if just 1,000 additional local students graduated from high school they would earn $13 million in additional earnings each year, they would spend an additional $1 million each year purchasing vehicles, and would support 100 new jobs in the community, and give an additional $1.4 million annually into community organizations through increased spending, investing, and donating (according to Alliance for Excellent Education – January 2010).

To learn more and to take action to help, please attend MCCOY’s “iCare” public awareness campaign Launch Party on Thursday, November 18th from 5-7 p.m. at Arsenal Technical High School – Admin Building, Room 7 (1500 E. Michigan St.) At this event, you will hear from Matthew Tully from the Indianapolis Star, about what he has seen as a reporter in the Indianapolis Public School district, and hear his inspiring and memorable stories of students and their lives. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions of a panel consisting of a Marion County student, parent, and administrator. Attendees will enjoy student performances and refreshments made from Tech’s culinary students. After expanding knowledge about why students are dropping out, attendees will be asked to take action to help by donating, volunteering, or signing-up for MCCOY’s monthly Student Success email alerts.

Register at http://www.rsvpbook.com/event.php?404202 and learn more about the public awareness campaign at http://www.icareindy.com/.