College students who withdrew from a course but continued in other courses resembled dropouts in that their time of withdrawal was related to academic standing. (Editor)

Correspondence course students who did more than half the assignments were more likely to complete the course and do better on the final examination. Questions are raised concerning the motivation of those enrolled in correspondence courses. (Editor/JD)

Dropping-out and grade level attainment among Mexican American migrant workers were investigated in South Texas. Various correlations among student attitudes, grade level, academic performance, family life, and demographic factors were examined. Factors that had a direct relationship with staying in school are discussed. (Author/DF)

Results from a study of students from two high schools indicate that by using data from students' permanent records, dropouts could be differentiated with 66 percent accuracy in third grade and with 85 percent accuracy by ninth grade. School-attending nongraduates could be identified with 77 percent accuracy by ninth grade. (IAH)

This study evaluates the effects of school desegregation by court-ordered busing on the subsequent dropout rate of minority and majority students. (MM)

The study presents an investigation of the association between freshman year voluntary persistence/withdrawal decisions and different types of student-faculty informal contact beyond the classroom. (JMF)

This study questioned a previously observed relationship between seventh grade academic failure and later dropout behavior using five mediating variables. Researchers estimated a causal model with data from individuals tested in seventh through ninth grades and as young adults. Certain mediating factors (e.g., low motivation and perception of peer…

Presents the entire text of the Sandia National Laboratories report, "Perspectives on Education in America." The report includes detailed analyses of dropout studies, standardized testing, postsecondary studies, educational funding, international comparisons, and educator status. It also addresses future workforce requirements, changing…

Building on previous data, researchers used West Virginia school district data to investigate the value of examining structurally determined opportunities and costs to explain high school students' dropping out. The study interpreted dropping out as a rational consequence of students' assessments of the opportunities and costs associated with…

The High School and Beyond survey collected experiences of dropouts and high school graduates. Researchers compared dropping out to personal, social, and labor market experiences four years after projected graduation date. Dropouts differed from graduates in personal and social adjustment but not self-esteem. Male and female dropouts had different…

This study evaluated the effect of middle-to-high-school transition programs on educational progress (student performance and retention) in a nationally representative sample of public school students. Data from the National Educational Longitudinal Survey indicated that transition programs targeting students, parents, and school staff together…