The Importance of Education
Attendance
Attendance does more than simply help you get higher grades. It also helps you develop personal skills that will help you outside of the classroom. Some of these skills include:
- Socialization skills to connect with others and make new friends
- Listening skills to better learn and understand
- Communication skills to express your thoughts to others clearly
- Gathering relevant and accurate information
- Critical thinking to analyze situations and information
- Identifying possible choices and consequences to determine the best course of action
- Problem solving to come up with a solution to a problem
- Understanding concepts and ideas, which strengthens your other skills
The longer you stay in school, the stronger these skills become and the more they benefit you and your community.
Did You Know?
8 Million
Did You Know?
40%
Belonging
Belonging plays a key role in your well-being, which influences your education. Attending school and participating in your education can build your sense of belonging and connection to your school and peers. Feeling connected offers benefits such as:
- Better relationships with others
- Better grades and test scores
- Better physical and mental health
- Being able to handle hard things better
- A lower risk for tobacco, alcohol, and drug use
- A lower risk for mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression
- A lower risk of being involved in violence
These feelings of belonging and connection can also happen outside of school, such as at a church or in a Tribal community, and these connections can help you as you work towards finishing your education.
Completion
Finishing a formal education and pursuing higher education can benefit you, your family, and your community in multiple ways. These benefits include:
Better Jobs & Income
Graduating high school and attending college increases your chances of getting a good job with a higher paycheck. It also increases your ability to start and run a successful business, which can bring more jobs and money to your community.
Better Health & Wellness
Education improves your quality of health and reduces health risks such as alcohol and substance abuse and dying from cardiovascular disease, cancer, infection, injury, lung disease, and diabetes.
Stronger Communities
People who graduate from high school and go on to college become stronger individuals who are able and equipped to build up their communities. People who are educated are more likely to vote and volunteer compared to those who drop out of high school. Additionally, communities with more educated members have less criminal activity, trust each other more, have less conflict and instability, and are more likely to promote equality.
Finishing your education gives you more opportunities, helps you make better choices for the future, and prepares you to live a better life.
Did You Know?
1.42 Million
Know the Risks
There are risks that come from skipping school, not belonging, and dropping out of school. These issues can feed into each other, and they have serious consequences that will affect you now and in the future.
Skipping School
Skipping even two days every month can increase your risk for:
- Poor results on standardized tests
- Mental health issues
- Alcohol and drug use
- Escalated school fights
- Bullying and cyberbullying, either as a bully or as a victim
- Delinquency (criminal acts committed by youth), which increases the likelihood of getting arrested or referred to the juvenile justice system
- Dropping out of high school
- Difficulties at work
- Adult criminal activities, which can lead to arrests and jail time
- Suicide attempts
Not Belonging
Feeling like you don’t belong can increase your risks for:
- Mental illnesses and conditions, such as anxiety or depression
- Poor sleep
- Reduced immunity to illness
- Getting sick
- Bullying and cyberbullying
- Skipping school
- Dropping out of school
- Getting involved in criminal activities or with harmful groups
Dropping Out
Dropping out of school can severely affect your life in multiple ways. If you drop out of school, you are:
- Twice as likely to be unemployed
- Six times more likely to use alcohol and drugs
- More likely to participate in criminal activities, including violent crime
- More likely to be arrested and serve jail time
- More likely to have poor health and die earlier than expected
Addressing the factors behind these issues can help you be happier, do better, and complete your education.
Did You Know?
of U.S. students missed at least 10% of the 2023-2024 school year – that's about three weeks of school.
Source: future-ed.org
of students in Wisconsin were frequently absent during the 2023-2024 school year.
Source: future-ed.org
of Native American students nationwide are frequently absent.
Source: ed.gov
of Wisconsin high school students graduated on time during the 2023-2024 school year.
Source: dpi.wi.gov
of all Native American students graduate high school – the lowest rate of all American students.
Source: nativehope.org
of high school students nationwide dropped out of school in 2022.
Source: nces.ed.gov
of all Native American students dropped out of school in 2022 – the highest rate of all American students.
Source: nces.ed.gov
of Sawyer County residents have earned a bachelor degree or higher.
Source: census.gov
of Native American young adults earned a bachelor degree or higher in 2022.
Source: nces.ed.gov
What Can I Do?
Attend
Attendance is one of the major factors involved in finishing your education. Here are some things you can do:
Avoid Absences
Missing school can make it more difficult to keep up with coursework. Students who are frequently absent are four times more likely to drop out of school compared to their peers.
Take Care of Your Health
Your health can affect how well you learn and complete schoolwork. Eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and taking time to relax will help you do well both in school and in other areas of your life.
If you are struggling with your health, or if your health is affecting your attendance, talk with a doctor to find solutions.
Belong
You can help others feel belonging and connection by doing the following:
Be Kind
Being kind can have huge benefits for you and your school. Some of those benefits include:
- More happiness
- More empathy
- Stronger sense of belonging
- Improved self-esteem
- Better relationship and connection with peers
- Better health
- Less stress
- More gratitude
- Better concentration
- Improved results in schoolwork
- Less depression
- Less bullying
Stop Bullying
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. This behavior tends to be repeated and can happen in person or online (cyberbullying). Regardless of who is involved, bullying and cyberbullying increases everyone’s risk for:
- Mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression
- Insecurity based on the fear of retaliation or becoming a target
- Frequent absences
- Dropping out of school
- Alcohol, tobacco, and drug use
To learn more about bullying and what you can do about it, visit the Stop Bullying website.
Participate in Extracurricular Activities
Studies show that in addition to increasing engagement and belonging, extracurricular activities can:
- Teach and improve values, such as:
- Teamwork
- Personal and group responsibility
- Diversity
- Build physical strength, endurance, and ability
- Build a sense of culture and community
There are several ways to participate in extracurricular activities. Some of these include:
- Athletics, such as football, volleyball, or basketball
- Music programs, such as choir or band
- Theatre or drama club
- Art programs
- School clubs, such as the honors club or debate
Participate in Cultural Activities
Cultural activities are another way to feel belonging and connection, which can help you do better in school. There are several ways to participate in cultural activities. Participation can include:
- Attending gatherings and celebrations, such as powwows and funerals
- Learning another language, especially a language connected to your cultural heritage
- Learning and playing traditional games
- Learning traditional practices such as:
- Gathering traditional foods and medicines
- Singing traditional songs and playing traditional music
- Telling traditional stories
When participating in cultural activities, be respectful of the culture and the people who are sharing these practices with you.
Commit
The following may help you commit to finish your education:
Use Available Resources
The school districts in Sawyer County have multiple resources available. Some resources vary depending on the district, so check with your local school district to see what they provide. Depending on the district, possible options include after school programs, tutoring, and counseling.
Members of the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe have access to Tribal resources to help meet needs and connect with your culture. To learn more, visit the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe website.
Ask For Help
Issues at school or home can make finishing schooling more difficult, which may lead to frequent absences and potentially dropping out. There are several issues that can make school more difficult, which can include:
- Anxiety, high levels of stress, depression, or other mental illnesses
- Feeling misunderstood by teachers and classmates
- Bullying and cyberbullying
- Difficulties making or keeping friends
- Difficulties focusing or learning
- Feeling unwell, especially over a long period of time
- Homelessness
- Lack of food at home
- Abuse or neglect
Asking for help is not a bad thing. In fact, addressing these issues can help you do better in school, finish your education, and be happier overall. Talk with your parents and teachers to see what solutions and resources may be helpful. Depending on your circumstances, you and your family may need additional help so you can attend school regularly and be more successful. Some solutions may include:
- Talking with a healthcare provider to find a solution, such as testing for ADHD or getting glasses
- Talking to a healthcare provider about mental health treatment
- Learning about bullying and what you can do to stop it
- Getting food and/or transportation through the school district
Frequently Asked Questions
What resources are available to me as a student?
Your school district website may have access to resources you need. Check your local school district’s website for more information.
For information regard state resources and regulations, visit the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website. The website also provides resources for bullying prevention, child abuse and neglect, GED and alternative education, and so on.
If you and your family need help with getting food, paying housing and utilities, mental health supports, substance use services, or other support, 211 Wisconsin can connect you with the resources you need.
As a Native American student, what resources are available for me?
Members of the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe may access Tribal resources such as an emergency shelter, food distribution, a TANF program, and general assistance.
We R Native is a website for Native youth that helps provide culturally relevant information about topics such as bullying, health, dating and relationships, and so on.
UNITY is an organization that helps Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native youth. They provide resources like scholarships and initiatives to address issues Native youth face.
What emergency resources are available?
If you or another person are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your local emergency department.
If you or another person are struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts or are in crisis, you can call 988 or visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website.
If you or someone you know are thinking about running away from home or have run away from home, the National Runaway Safeline offers guidance and resources to help you find solutions to improve your situation.