TWO ARTICLES ARE PRESENTED. THE FIRST BY LEONARD M. MILLER, "THE DROPOUT--SCHOOLS SEARCH FOR CLUES TO HIS PROBLEMS," DISCUSSED DATA DISCOVERED BY DIFFERENT STATES ON DROPOUTS. IN MARYLAND COUNSELORS CLAIM THAT LACK OF INTEREST AND DISLIKE OF SCHOOL WERE THE MAIN REASONS FOR DROPOUTS. SPECIFICALLY, THEY WERE DISCOURAGED OVER THEIR…

San Diego City Schools completed a study to determine: (1) the number of school leavers (dropouts) from district schools during 1982-83 for grades 9 through 12; (2) characteristics associated with school leaving; (3) overall rates of attrition; and (4) attrition rates for students with certain characteristics. The study was intended to update and…

Based on an assessment of the research of others and personal research experience, suggestions are provided on the analysis and reporting of data on high school dropouts. Most of the experience upon which these insights are based is associated with schools in Boston, Massachusetts. Topics covered include types of statistics to be reported,…

Argues that most dropout prevention attempts have been hampered by the lack of an unbiased, coherent and easily accessible source of data on the total and at risk populations of young people. Provides preliminary data on several groups of students not characterized by traditional dropout descriptors. Offers recommendations for improvement in…

This study updates and adds to data presented in a March 1986 study on the dropout problem in Boston (Massachusetts) Public Schools. The current study has the following four major parts: (1) updates to student loss data for the entire 1985-86 school year; (2) demographic studies of dropouts for that period: analyses by gender, race, grade,…

This paper examines existing research regarding the problem of school dropouts. It examines the historical context of the problem and discusses current definitions and methods for identifying dropout characteristics and computing dropout rates. Few incentives exist for accurate record-keeping on dropouts. School finances are often linked to…

This annual report provides information about dropouts in Texas public schools for the 1996-97 school year. The report includes (1) historical dropout information; (2) a summary of dropout rates based on dropout characteristics and school district characteristics; (3) a listing of dropout rates broken down by county, district, and campus; and (4)…

Factors affecting the return rate of a mailed questionnaire were investigated. A survey was mailed to 196 students who had dropped out of home study courses offered by a distance education university. The effects of personalizing the cover letter and of including anonymous pre-coded personal information on the questionnaire were studied in a 2 X 2…

In March, 1980, a project was undertaken to develop a model for continued identification and analysis of attrition factors in the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS). Specifically, the project was designed to define attrition and distinguish dropouts from other non-returning students; develop and validate instruments for collecting…

A consortium program of eight private colleges in Southern California that focuses on student retention efforts is described. Each college has a retention task force consisting of faculty, administrators, student affairs staff, and students. A steering committee with one representative from each college, generally the dean of students, coordinates…