Teenage Pregnancy and School Dropouts in Texas: Demographic Profile and Effect on Earnings, High School Graduation, and GED Certification

The United States has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy among developed countries. In 2002, almost 800,000 teenagers became pregnant in the U.S. (National Center for Health Statistics). Teenage pregnancy is associated with social and psychological suffering, and is also a cause for school abandonment. This study investigates the demographics of female students who dropped out of Texas public schools, and the effects of the dropout event because of teenage pregnancy as compared to female dropouts who left school due to other reasons. It is a longitudinal study of five cohorts of female dropouts, using data from the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Workforce Commission housed at the Green Center for the Study of Science and Society (University of Texas, Dallas). The study employs econometric techniques to assess the effects of dropout event due to pregnancy on earnings, high school graduation, and GED certification (OLS and Logit regression models), as compared to female dropouts who left school because of other reasons. The findings suggest a significant negative effect on yearly earnings. The analyses are especially useful to social researchers, educators and policy-makers.