New Study Finds Each GOAL Graduate Saves Colorado About $47,000 in Long‑Term Public Costs
A new independent study confirms that helping students re‑engage in education and graduate from GOAL High School delivers measurable benefits not only for students, but for the State of Colorado as a whole.
The report, prepared by economist Dr. Tatiana Bailey and Data‑Driven Economic Strategies, analyzed the economic and social impact of GOAL High School graduates. Using Colorado‑specific data, the study found that each student who graduates instead of dropping out saves the state approximately $47,000 in lifetime public costs, driven by lower use of healthcare services, reduced incarceration rates, and decreased reliance on public assistance programs
GOAL High School serves students from across Colorado who often enter school at several grade levels behind and face significant academic, personal, or life challenges. Despite these barriers, the study found that GOAL supports approximately 1,700 students each year in earning a high school diploma, an outcome that dramatically improves long‑term economic stability and opportunity.
Beyond individual success, the report showed that these per‑student savings add up to hundreds of millions of dollars in avoided public costs for each graduating cohort, while also increasing workforce participation and tax contributions statewide. When weighed against the public investment in education, the analysis concludes that GOAL produces a strong return for taxpayers.
District 49 and GOAL leadership emphasized that the findings highlight the value of alternative education and re‑engagement models, especially for students who are statistically less likely to graduate in traditional settings.
The full report, The Economic and Social Impacts of District 49’s GOAL High School, provides additional detail on workforce outcomes, tax impacts, and long‑term public savings.