| Equation | (# participants) x [(% participants who graduate) – (% counterfactual rate of high school graduation)] x ($ per participant present discounted benefits) |
| Explanation | This metric estimates the impacts of obtaining a high school diploma on lifetime health, estimated in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALY). Number of participants: Reported by program. Percentage of participants who graduate from high school: Reported by program. Counterfactual rate of high school graduation: [65%]. This is the graduation rate of low-income students in the Twin-Cities (Minnesota Compass, 2018). Whenever appropriate, we use the graduation rate of low-income students (approximated by eligibility for free- or reduced-price lunch) in specific school districts. QALY increase: [5.1]. We estimate that high school graduation boosts the future health status of students by 5.1 QALYs at age 85 based on the work of Muennig, et al. (2010). $ value per QALY: [$50,000]. Benefits are then discounted to present value based on the average age of participation to life expectancy. |
| References | Minnesota Compass (2018). Education: High school graduation. High school students graduating on time by income. Retrieved from: http://www.mncompass.org/education/high-school-graduation#7-6108-d Muennig, P., Fiscella, K., Tancredl, D., & Franks, P. (2010). The relative health burden of selected social and behavioral risk factors in the united states: Implications for policy. American Journal of Public Health, 100(9), 1758–1764. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2009.165019 |
EDU007 High school leading to improved health
