With 8,600 fewer dropouts, Colorado could see millions

Colorado's high school dropout rate has continued to fall, reports KUNC. About 2.4 percent, or 10,546 students, left school without graduating in 2014. But even when a few thousand students don't graduate, the costs are substantial: 

If Colorado had a 90 percent graduation rate (roughly 8,600 more students) that would translate into $101 million in increased annual earnings, along with more federal tax revenue and more jobs.

"The case [the group] is making is that the best economic stimulus package is a high school diploma," [Judith Martinez, Director of Dropout Prevention and Student Engagement with the Colorado Department of Education] said.