Non-continuation in higher education is rising up the political agenda. In the vernacular, it is often described negatively as 'dropping out'. But despite any terminological confusion, all such measures describe a gap between learners' original stated intentions and their situation when they leave their course. This policy note looks at the scale…

This Data Point utilizes data from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09), a nationally representative, longitudinal study of more than 23,000 ninth-graders in 2009. HSLS:09 surveyed students, their parents, math and science teachers, school administrators, and school counselors. The study included information about students who were…

Roughly defined as grades four through eight, the middle grades are a known pressure point in the educational pipeline -- a make or break period for determining future academic success. Research has shown that students who are not proficient in reading by the beginning of fourth grade are four times more likely to drop out of school. Similarly,…

The U.S. Department of Education's (ED) National Center for Education Statistics defines dropouts as "16- through 21-year-olds who are not enrolled in school and have not earned a high school credential (either a diploma or an equivalency credential such as a General Education Development (GED) certificate)." According to the feds, the…

In this article, three practitioners--a superintendent, a principal, and a teacher--examine how and why students drop out. The superintendent shares a new strategy to lower dropout rates, the principal discusses what are essential for schools that want to improve the achievement and graduation rates of English language learner (ELL) students, and…

This report presents new evidence on the number and characteristics of Hispanic high school dropouts in comparison to other high school dropouts. Examining trends over the 1990s based on the latest available Census data, it documents how the aggregate published Hispanic high school dropout rate overstates the number of Hispanics leaving U.S.…

The relationship between student dropout and high school grades, demographic factors and psychosocial variables was examined for 40 682 full-time Dawson College students. Overall, low high school grades and older age were the best predictors of dropout. Male students, who generally had lower grades than females, were more likely to drop out than…

America's school dropout rate is now over 25 percent. What can be done to address the problem and reclaim youth is explored. (MT)

This paper provides descriptive information on high school students who have dropped out, graduated, or left the Seattle Public Schools for other reasons since the 1981-82 school year. First, the number and percentage of leaving students for each of four reasons (exemption, termination, suspension/expulsion, no-show) are indicated. Additional…

This is a report on high school dropouts in the Los Angeles Unified School District during 1979-80. The study covered 110 secondary schools and sought to determine: 1) the frequency and rate of school leaving among tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders; 2) the characteristics of the leaver; and 3) reasons for leaving school. The data were collected…

Oregon's accounting system to identify early school leavers is described in this document. The system provides a uniform process for identifying students in grades 7-12 who leave school prior to completion of a high school degree or equivalent studies. Included are sample forms and instructions for completion, a description of the state Department…

This report summarizes the results of a large-scale study of the dropout problem in Texas. The report is divided into three major sections which deal with these questions, respectively: (1) What is the magnitude of the dropout problem in Texas? (2) What is the economic impact of the dropout problem for Texas? and (3) What is the nature and…

Part I of this report presents background information on the problem of increasing dropout rates in the Phoenix Union High School District. Factors affecting the dropout rate are discussed, and dropout figures are given for the Phoenix Union High School District as well as for neighboring districts. Part II provides a summary of the education and…

This paper provides information about Newark (New Jersey) high school students who have officially dropped out of school. The report is divided into four sections. The first section is an overview of the dropout rate of two cohorts of students: freshmen in 1979-80, and freshmen in 1980-81. The second section includes 1984-85 data, based on monthly…

Members of the educational community are increasingly concerned that the dropout rate is too high. However, concerned educators and researchers do not agree who should be included in the data to determine the dropout rate. National definitions are needed so that accurate comparisons can be made. There is also a need to assess the effectiveness of…