High School Marriages in Pennsylvania

A questionnaire survey of 765 high schools in Pennsylvania found that the incidence rate of marriage was .66 percent, that more marriages took place in rural counties, that four times as many females married while in high school than males, and that nine out of ten females dropped out of school after marriage while two-thirds of the males remained through graduation. A comparison with six other statewide studies noted similarity of trends. A sample of married students was compared with a control group of nonmarried peers for differences in achievement, parental education and occupation, and family structure. Differences in achievement were slight but consistently in favor of the control group, and no differences were noted in education and occupation of parents. Fewer siblings were found in the control group.