By Claire Hardman/Wichita Habitat research volunteer
Having a permanent home can impact a student’s performance in school. An analysis of six Sedgwick County school districts and 15 high schools found there may be a link between homeownership and education. On average, school zones with less rentership have higher graduation rates. When children grow up in a permanent home it impacts their education through improved attendance, better cognitive and behavioral health, and improved academic achievement.
Click this link to learn more
A brief released by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness provides similar outcomes: the risk of dropping out or repeating a grade is significantly higher for students who experience housing instability. Not only that, but these students are also more likely to experience trauma, mental health issues, and food insecurity at home. Read more about how housing impacts school performance.
“I’ve moved schools over 5 times and I’d say I pretty much constantly feel as though the education I’ve received is inadequate compared to other people because I was never really able to focus on school due to larger issues, or lack of prior knowledge because of moving from school to school,” – Hannah, a recent graduate of Northwest High School who has moved constantly and lived in rented housing.