Hamilton County Schools face a graduation crisis...

Nearly 1 in 5 High School Freshman won't have a diploma in 4 years.

Wednesday students, school, business & community leaders came together to address the problem...

Hamilton County Adult High School senior Shawn Workman says, "That kinda dictates the rest of your life. You can't really get a job without a diploma. I mean sure, you can do get a GED, but that's not nearly as good."

For Shawn & classmate Troy Workman chosing to graduate instead of dropping out is a matter of responsibility.

The seniors are part of a student panel for the Hamilton County Graduation Summit.

Troy says, "I felt like I had no one in my corner. I felt like my teachers were trying to push me to get through their class."

It's an effort to address a community problem... 19% of Hamilton County's high school freshman will drop out before they graduate.

Hixson High School Principal Christine Couch says, "We own the problem that we have. But we need the whole community to help us, because it's larger than what's happening in the high schools."

Community & civic leaders, legistlators and even faith based organizations are part of the graduation promotion.

School leaders say a dropout will cost the community $292,000 over their lifetime in lower tax revenues, higher cost of services, and incarceration...

Hamilton County averages 650 drop outs per year, that's $190 Million in a lifetime.

District Spokesperson Danielle Clark says, "It really is a Hamilton Co. taxpayer issue because dropouts don't leave. They have no means of leaving because their annual mean wage is so much lower. So it's not like they're gonna leave. So it is everybody's business."

But for Shawn and Troy...it's personal...

Shawn says, "If you don't have that diploma you're really not gonna have much. It's as simple as that."

The findings from the Hamilton County Graduation Summit will help form an action plan, outlining what different segments of the community can do to help address dropout rates.