It can be inferred from foster care education statistics that living in foster care affects a child in many ways. Whether it’s because of the frequent transfers from one foster home to another or separation from siblings, the child will be emotionally affected all the same.

Ultimately, these factors will influence their school performance negatively. To prove our point and raise awareness, we’ve compiled a list of stats regarding foster care education.

Interesting Foster Care Statistics (Editor’s Choice)

• The median age of foster children is 6.1 years old

• The number of foster youth nationwide is roughly 424,000

• At least 40% of foster children have learning difficulties

• Foster kids are suspended and expelled from school three times more often than other children

• Foster youth is less likely to graduate from high school

• Between 3% and 10.8% of foster care alumni have a bachelor’s degree

• 20,000 children between 18 and 21 age out of the system yearly

• 50% of foster children have no earnings within four years of aging out, and those who do have an average annual income of $7,500

Foster Care Education Statistics

1. The number of foster youth nationwide is roughly 424,000.

(Children’s Rights)

The number of foster children has been increasing yearly, despite the best efforts of Child Protective Services to prevent the children’s removal from their parents. As a result, there is a high demand for foster parents in nearly every city across the US.

2. There are more male than female children in foster care.

(Statista)

The number of children in foster care in the US based on gender is close to equal. However, there were more male than female children in foster homes in 2019. More precisely, a Statista survey shows that there were about 218,415 male foster children compared to 205,523 female foster children.

3. 251,359 children entered the US foster care system in 2019.

(Statista)

According to the latest data available on foster care education stats, the average number of children entering the US foster care system has changed over the years. In 2007, statistics showed that the total number of kids entering foster care reached its all-time high, standing at 293,276. That number continuously declined until 2012, after which it increased to 273,332 in 2016. It ultimately dropped to 251,359 in 2019.

Foster Care System Facts

While learning about statistics related to the education of foster care children is imperative, knowing some facts about the foster care system is also a must. Let’s dive deeper into the topic.

4. The median age of foster children is 6.1 years old.

(iFoster)

Despite the widespread belief that most foster children are abandoned or taken from their families as babies, the median age of foster children is 6.1 years old. According to foster children and education statistics, children of all ages, from infants to 21-year-olds, are part of the foster care system worldwide.

5. Nine out of 1,000 US children experience abuse or neglect.

(Verywellfamily)

There are several reasons Child Protective Services would remove a child from a family home, and some are more severe than others. Among the most common ones are mental, physical, or sexual abuse and neglect. According to national foster care statistics, nine out of 1,000 American children are victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect during their childhood. Children up to three years old are the most vulnerable group, with 15 out of 1,000 experiencing the said abuse.

6. 21,646 children in foster care were in the system for five years or more.

(Statista)

In 2019, 90,922 children spent 1–5 months in foster care, 66,290 spent 12–17 months in foster care, and 21,646 spent five years or more in the system, based on statistics on foster care and education.

7. In 2018, 22,543 kids entered the California foster care system.

(KidsData)

Data about foster care show that the average rate of children entering foster care for the first time in California was 2.4 per 1,000 in 2018 for children aged 0–17. Although that number doesn’t seem high, it corresponds to roughly 22,500 children entering the foster care system, according to California foster care statistics.

8. 20,000 children between 18 and 21 years old age out of the system yearly.

(iFoster)

The exact age when children become too old for the system depends on the country. Still, 20,000 young individuals exit foster care yearly because they become adults. Left to their fate, these kids have to learn to provide for themselves. As a result, education becomes less important than working for many of them.

Foster Care High School Graduation Rate

Many individuals believe that there are significantly fewer foster children who graduate from high school than children who never experienced foster care—and they are right. Let’s go over the statistics regarding this topic.

9. Foster care students are less likely to graduate from high school.

(FosterSuccess)

High school statistics show that only 55% of foster youth graduated from school in 2020. In 2019, the overall foster care graduation rates were around 64%. Compared to an overall graduation rate of 87.3% for other students that year, it’s a significantly lower percentage.

10. Only 21% of urban and 5% of rural foster youth have access to a computer at home.

(iFoster)

In 2021, having access to a computer is crucial for any student. However, the majority of foster youth don’t have access to technology at home. It can be inferred from foster care education stats that without easy access to laptops or smartphones, foster kids are restricted in many areas, such as studying, job application, and extracurricular activities. Therefore, these students are at a disadvantage from the start and are more likely to fail or barely pass their exams.

11. High school dropout rates are three times higher for foster youth than other low-income children.

(NFYI)

According to foster youth and education statistics, high school dropout rates are three times higher for foster youth than other low-income children. One of the common reasons cited is the frequency at which these children change homes. Ultimately, we believe that for the dropout rate to improve, foster children need better guidelines and more support to meet academic requirements that will help them land better jobs in the future.

Effects of Foster Care on Education

Foster children’s education is severely affected. As such, we’ve compiled a list of statistics that focus on this particular issue. All of these stats will explain how being a foster child negatively influences a child’s growth and career prospects.

12. Foster kids get suspended and expelled from school three times more often than other children.

(Partners For Our Children)

According to foster youth education statistics, children in foster care have different needs and backgrounds than their peers. Many of these children come from abusive households, making them prone to erratic behavior that ultimately leads to suspension or more severe disciplinary measures.

13. At least 40% of foster children have learning difficulties.

(Partners for Our Children)

Experiencing foster care is often associated with under-performance in school, dropping out, and not pursuing higher education. Based on foster care education facts, foster care students meet state standards in mathematics, science, and English at less than half the rate of other children. Furthermore, 40% of these kids have difficulties studying.

14. One out of four foster kids show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.

(SpeakUpNow)

PTSD, also known as post-traumatic stress disorder, is a huge issue when talking about foster children. Research has shown that at least 25% of the overall number of foster youth in the US suffer from this mental health condition.

15. Six out of ten boys who age out of foster care have been convicted of a crime.

(Chlss)

As dire as these statistics are, they are indeed true. 60% of the total number of young male individuals are convicted of at least one crime after exiting foster care because of their age, according to aging out of foster care and education statistics.

16. Being a child in foster care increases the frequency of mid-year school changes and decreases the total number of days children spend in school.

(Partners For Our Children)

Foster children change schools more often than other students. Moving to a new school is never easy on a child, let alone if it happens mid-year. These transitions affect children in more ways than one.

Foster Care Outcomes Statistics

Despite the big failure rate, there still are many foster children who do complete high school and decide to pursue higher education.

17. 50% of foster children have no income within their first four years of aging out, and those who do have an average annual income of $7,500.

(iFoster)

The inability to find a job or afford a home is a significant problem these children face once they age out of the system. As foster care and education statistics show, most of these kids have no idea what it takes for an individual to be self-reliant. Moreover, many foster care children don’t possess the skills required to land a high-paying job.

18. Only 32–45% of foster students who graduated high school aspire to pursue higher education.

(YouthToday)

Significantly fewer children in foster care go to universities because many of them aren’t financially stable, which can be inferred from foster care success statistics. Based on education statistics, low-income children don’t attend college mostly because of financial problems.

19. Between 3% and 10.8% of foster care alumni have a bachelor’s degree.

(Fostering Champs)

Obtaining a bachelor’s degree has become essential to any individual to land a good job. However, not everyone has the means necessary to do so. Unfortunately, foster children, in particular, are at a disadvantage. More precisely, foster care college statistics show that only 3–10.8% of foster care alumni have a bachelor’s degree.

Conclusion

Given the statistics listed above, foster kids are at a disadvantage from the start compared to other kids in terms of education. Multiple factors have a significant impact on foster children’s academic performance, such as school transfers, disrupted school attendance, lack of access to mental health services, financial problems, and so forth. After closely examining foster care education statistics, we concluded that there is much room for improvement in foster children’s education. Creating a safe environment where foster students won’t feel threatened is a good starting point. It’s imperative we provide them with not only emotional and financial support but also guidance and much-needed advice. Only then can we expect a more positive outcome and brighter future for all.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the average stipend for foster care?

Many factors impact the amount of money a foster parent gets monthly. One of them is the location because these rates vary depending on the state. Moreover, whether or not you’re working with a public or private organization makes a difference.

Generally, public organizations pay smaller stipends than private ones, according to foster care education research.

All in all, the needs of these foster children make the biggest difference when it comes to the amount of money foster parents get for fostering a child. Foster parents who need to pay for expensive medical bills or have special needs children will always get bigger stipends than those whose children are healthy. In the US, stipends range between $300 and $1,079 a month.

How does foster care affect a child’s education?

A child’s education is indeed severely influenced by the foster care system. Some of the most common problems foster kids face include frequently moving from one place to another, separation from their family, being bullied, and mental health issues such as depression.

All of the above will negatively affect a child’s education in some way, shape, or form, causing them to be more prone to lashing out or misbehaving.

How can teachers help students in foster care?

Foster children generally need more attention than regular students. They need people who will point them in the right direction in life.

They can help foster care students by creating a safe environment for them, giving them a sense of control, ensuring that they feel connected to their peers, and teaching them self-regulation skills such as deep breathing and meditation.