Although the number of students in higher education institutions (HEIs) has increased over the past two decades, it is far from assured that all students will gain an academic degree. To that end, institutional analytics (IA) can offer insights to support strategic planning with the aim of reducing dropout and therefore of minimizing its negative…

High School graduation rates are key indicators of accountability for high schools and school districts in Oregon. Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) implemented the cohort method of calculating graduation rates. The cohort method identifies the year the student entered high school for the first time…

The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of school and district dropout data and, if possible, to establish an accurate dropout rate for the Dade County Public Schools. Several key school files and documents were examined; prior dropout data were examined; and a survey of school personnel was conducted. The general conclusion of the…

This manual has been produced to familiarize data users with the procedures followed for data collection and processing of the first follow-up dropout component of the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88). Necessary documentation is also provided for use of the data files. The base-year population covered by the NELS:88 included…

This manual familiarizes data users with the procedures followed for data collection and processing of the second follow-up dropout component of the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88), a survey of the educational and personal characteristics of students. The dropout data file contains records for 2,028 sample members who…

This guide to surveying college students, graduates, and dropouts accompanies The Student Outcomes Questionnaires developed by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. Student outcomes are defined as the results or consequences of a student's enrollment in a post secondary educational program. The Student Outcomes…

The principal investigators of this study were asked by a midwestern urban high school to assist in the analysis of data collected on students who had dropped out of high school. The data were to be reviewed to determine the cause of the high school's dropout rate. Variables investigated included attendance, grade point average, fourth grade…

A total of 2,782 nonreturning occupational and transfer students responded to a series of surveys conducted by 13 Texas community colleges during fall 1977 as part of the Tex-SIS (Student Information System) Follow-up System. Information on college majors, educational goals, reasons for not re-enrolling, satisfaction with college experience,…

The school year 1991-92 was the first in which states reported school district level data on the numbers and types of dropouts in the Common Core of Data (CCD) Agency Universe Survey. Information included numbers of male and female dropouts in 5 racial/ethnic categories for grades 7 through 12. The CCD defined a dropout as a student who had been…

This volume contains 11 appendices to a user's manual that provides guidance and documentation for users of the public release data for the student component of the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88). The general aim of the NELS, a continuing long-term project, is to study the educational, vocational, and personal development…

The Second Follow-Up Field Test (SFUFT) of the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) was conducted in 1990 and 1991 by the National Opinion Research Center and the Educational Testing Service. The SFUFT evaluated free response items (FRIs) for possible inclusion in the Second Follow-Up Main Study (SFUMS) and tested survey…

In 1988, a National Dropout Statistics Task Force (comprised of representatives from 27 states, 3 U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia) was created to work with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to develop procedures for uniform counting of dropouts and dropout rate reporting. A standard definition was constructed for…

A follow-up study was conducted by the North Carolina Department of Community Colleges in summer 1981 to obtain employer evaluations of the performance of occupational curriculum students who were enrolled in college in the 1979-80 school year, but did not return in 1980-81. Drawing from employment information obtained during the first statewide…

This handbook for state and local education agencies is intended as a reference to assist in initiating and/or improving follow-up systems or studies of former vocational students. A companion volume focuses on follow-up studies of special populations (see Note). Section 1, which contains information on use of the handbook, also introduces the…

A pilot study was conducted to determine the applicability of Student Information System (SIS) data collection instruments to the operations, programs, and services of Whatcom Community College (WCC). The study centered on Subsystem I (student's educational intent) and Subsystem II (withdrawal follow-up) since the five other subsystems of SIS used…