( CNN ) -- In Masai culture , it is traditional to open a conversation with `` Casserian engeri , '' which means `` And how are the children ? '' The prominent value that the Masai place on the well-being of their children has me thinking about the well-being of our own children here in America . We rejoice with those who crossed the stage to receive their high school diplomas last spring , and look forward to the accomplishments of those who start school soon . Indeed , our children are doing well . For the first time in our nation 's history , 80 % of young Americans graduated from high school on time , according to the 2014 Building a GradNation . This is a significant achievement for those young graduates and our country as a whole . At that rate of increase , we can and should push forward to the goal of 90 % on-time high school graduation by 2020 . Four successive presidents have set forth this goal , and at last we are on track . But this statistic tells only a piece of the story about the well-being of our children . It disregards too quickly the remaining 20 % -- about 800,000 young people per year -- who do n't graduate on time . What happens to them ? Why are these young people not progressing , despite all of our best efforts ? Who are they ? And what must we do to help them stay on track and thrive as contributors to the economy of our country ? Over the past year , America 's Promise Alliance has been seeking those answers , right from the source . Our Center for Promise at Tufts University interviewed hundreds of young people who did not graduate on time or at all . And then we surveyed thousands of young people from all 50 states . So , how are our children ? Their responses , compiled and analyzed in the report `` Do n't Call Them Dropouts , '' are heartbreaking , humbling and ultimately hopeful . So many young people described the circumstances in which they grew up , environments made toxic by physical and emotional abuse , exposure to extreme violence , family stress and caretaking responsibilities . Young people have many reasons for leaving school , not all of them related to boredom or lack of motivation . Many leave because of complex and challenging life circumstances that , without proper adult support , make leaving school look like the only option . In the wake of leaving school without graduating , many showed tremendous optimism and a drive to achieve adult success . They want for themselves what we want for them : more education , a solid job , a strong family , a stable place to live . With this backdrop , it 's no surprise that many of the people we interviewed took exception to the term `` dropout . '' They do n't feel that they `` dropped out '' or , worse , quit . They simply made a decision to change the course of their lives . Nothing will be easy about increasing our national high school graduation rates . However , for the sake of our nation 's future , we must not forget about the potential that exists in 20 % of our nation 's students . Yes , all students need high quality schools with strong teachers and strong curricula , but they also need environments where they are heard . Set preconceptions and assumptions aside , and just listen hard . Try to understand their experiences and perspective , however challenging . Show them , in some way , that you care about their future . For our young adults with the highest needs , more schools should incorporate an early warning system to identify students whose attendance , behavior and course performance suggest that they need extra support to stay in school . Communities should consider how to create similar early-warning supports and systems beyond the school building for young adults affected by risk factors like a death in the family , an incarcerated parent or housing instability . As good stewards of our communities , we must help provide the support that our young people need for success , and that means learning from one another . With proven and promising examples of success happening all across the country , in and out of the classroom , we must create more opportunities for school systems and communities to collaborate with one another . It 's in that sharing , that great progress can be made . The question `` How are our children ? '' is the right one to be asking . But , let 's not be afraid of the challenging and complex answers that comes with it . At graduation season , and every day , let 's celebrate our high achievers while giving equal care to those young people taking the less common road .
For the first time , 80 % of young Americans graduated from high school on time . Alma Powell : We ca n't disregard the well-being of the 20 % who did n't . Powell : Many of them object to the term `` dropout '' ; they just decided to change course . She says we must offer support , identify them early , show we care about their futures .