The Claim: "The majority of humans didn't finish their high school"

Introduction

The assertion that "the majority of humans didn't finish their high school" presents a sweeping generalization about global educational attainment. This claim raises questions about its accuracy, especially considering the varying educational systems and graduation rates across different countries. To evaluate this claim, we will analyze available data on high school graduation rates both in the United States and globally.

What We Know

1. U.S. High School Graduation Rates: According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for public high school students in the U.S. increased from 80% in the 2011-12 school year to 87% in 2021-22 3. This suggests that a significant majority of students in the U.S. do complete high school.

2. International Educational Attainment: Data from the OECD indicates that in 33 of the 35 countries for which they reported data, the percentage of individuals aged 25 to 64 who completed high school as of 2022 was either higher than or not measurably different from the percentage in 2012 2. This implies that in many developed nations, high school completion rates are high.

3. Global Education Statistics: According to UNESCO, while there has been significant progress in global access to education, hundreds of millions of children still do not complete secondary education. As of 2023, approximately 244 million children were not in school, and many who do attend primary school drop out before reaching secondary education 910.

4. Future Trends: Projections indicate that high school graduation rates in the U.S. are expected to peak in 2025 and then decline through 2041, influenced by demographic changes and birth rates 6. This suggests potential future challenges in maintaining high graduation rates.

Analysis

The claim that "the majority of humans didn't finish their high school" appears to lack robust support when considering the available data.

• U.S. Context: The NCES data clearly shows that a substantial majority of U.S. high school students are graduating. The increase from 80% to 87% over a decade indicates a positive trend in educational attainment 3. However, it is important to note that this data is specific to public high schools and may not account for private institutions or alternative education pathways.

• Global Context: The OECD data supports the notion that in many developed countries, high school completion rates are high, which contradicts the claim 2. However, the situation is more complex in developing nations, where access to education can be significantly hindered by various factors such as poverty, conflict, and lack of infrastructure. The UNESCO data highlights that while access to education has improved, a large number of children still do not complete secondary education 10.

• Source Reliability: The NCES and OECD are reputable sources known for their rigorous data collection and analysis methodologies. However, it is essential to consider that these organizations primarily focus on formal education systems and may not fully capture informal or alternative educational pathways. Additionally, the global statistics from UNESCO provide a broader perspective but may not reflect the nuances of individual countries' educational systems.

• Potential Conflicts of Interest: While the sources cited are generally reliable, they are also affiliated with governmental and international organizations that may have specific educational agendas. This could influence the framing of data and the emphasis placed on certain statistics.

Conclusion

Verdict: False

The claim that "the majority of humans didn't finish their high school" is not supported by the available evidence. Key data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that approximately 87% of U.S. public high school students graduate, reflecting a significant majority. Furthermore, OECD data shows that in many developed countries, high school completion rates are similarly high. While UNESCO highlights ongoing challenges in global education, particularly in developing nations, the assertion that most individuals worldwide do not complete high school is an overgeneralization.

It is important to recognize that while high school completion rates are improving in many regions, disparities still exist, particularly in less developed areas. The data primarily reflects formal education systems and may not account for informal or alternative educational pathways, which could influence overall completion rates.

Readers should remain critical of sweeping claims regarding educational attainment and consider the complexities involved in global education statistics. The evidence suggests that while challenges remain, the assertion that most people do not finish high school is misleading.

Sources

1. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) - High School Graduation Rates: https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/coi/high-school-graduation-rates
2. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) - International Educational Attainment: https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cac/intl-ed-attainment
3. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) - Fast Facts: High school graduation rates: https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=805
4. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) - PDF Report on the Condition of Education 2023: https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2023/2023144.pdf
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics - College Enrollment and Work Activity of Recent High School Graduates: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/hsgec.nr0.htm
6. WICHE - The total number of high school graduates is expected to peak in 2025: https://www.wiche.edu/knocking/key-findings/graduates/
7. Statista - Education worldwide - statistics & facts: https://www.statista.com/topics/7785/education-worldwide/
8. OECD - Secondary graduation rate: https://www.oecd.org/en/data/indicators/secondary-graduation-rate.html
9. Our World in Data - Global Education: https://ourworldindata.org/global-education
10. UNESCO UIS - Education Data Release 2023: https://uis.unesco.org/en/news/education-data-release