Idaho’s high school student population has a gender gap, as young women are more likely to continue their education immediately after high school than men.
According to a piece by Idaho State Board of Education President Linda Clark, in 2017, 52 percent of female high school graduates enrolled in a career technical program or went to college. The “go-on” percentage rate for their high school classmates who are male was just 38 percent – a 14 point gap that has been fairly consistent for several years, meaning over 60 percent of Idaho’s young men are choosing not to go on to some form of post-secondary education immediately after high school.
The gender gap occurs across all regions of Idaho, and board researchers have found that the gap exists across all levels of academic achievement, including students who do well in high school.
Researchers note that the gap increases as the level of academic achievement rises. Several factors play a part in the gap, including that Idaho males are more likely to enlist in the military than Idaho females. A sizable portion of Idaho’s young male population also serve religious missions after high school, and additionally, when the economy is good, there are more entry-level jobs available for males without a career technical certificate or degree.
There may be other factors at play in the Gem State, as many Idaho families tend to hold more traditional values where male students seek to have a job as soon as possible. Research conducted by State Board staff indicates the go-on gap between males and females narrows by about one third within three years of high school graduation. (Linda Clark, ISBE)
