Philadelphia (CBS) - While efforts to improve student performance in the early grades have paid off and the achievement gap between white and black students is narrowing, a major problem is the high school dropout rate.

A recent survey by the Alliance for Excellence in Education asked students why they dropped out. Answers included: school subjects didn’t reflect real-life challenges; no one noticing when they didn’t come to class and classes that were uninteresting and irrelevant.

Research shows that youth from low income families drop out at 6 times the rate of those from higher income families. Many of those who choose not to complete school already are low achieving, adding to the problem.

Of the developed countries in the world, the US ranks number 18 with high school graduates. Not only are dropouts nonproductive citizens, but society could save $17 billion in Medicaid and healthcare expenditures for the uninsured by graduating all students.

If you know someone likely to drop out, inform him/her that a high school degree can result in earning $2 million over a lifetime. Multiply it out!

Reported By Dr. Marciene Mattleman, KYW Newsradio