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Many Arizona high school graduates are choosing to skip college

High schools are graduating lots of seniors around this time of year, and for some of them, a four-year college or university is the next step. There’s data that show students who get a bachelor’s degree earn more money over their lifetimes than those who do not. 

But fewer than half of high school grads in the state enroll in post-secondary education, according to the Arizona Progress Meter. And, a similar percent of Arizonans has either a two- or four-year degree.

The Show spoke about this with Jere Johnston, youth services librarian for the Red Mountain Library in Mesa, about what she’s seeing in terms of high school students thinking about what they’re going to do after graduation — and the choices they’re making.

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Mark Brodie is a co-host of The Show, KJZZ’s locally produced news magazine. Since starting at KJZZ in 2002, Brodie has been a host, reporter and producer, including several years covering the Arizona Legislature, based at the Capitol.