Students drop out of school because of a variety of family, economic, and racial factors that can be categorized as either alienation, lack of motivation, or disadvantage. The key to reducing the dropout rate is helping youth to overcome their sense of disconnection. Students with low motivation to attend school have shown improvement in school…

In spring 1984, a three-part withdrawal study was conducted at Glendale (Arizona) Community College (GCC) to investigate reasons for course withdrawal, and official and unofficial college withdrawal. Study findings, based on responses from 138 students who withdrew from courses, 282 students who officially withdrew from GCC, and 9 students who…

Certain aspects of the dropout problem, specifically the relationships between certain characteristics of handicapped and nonhandicapped dropout populations, were examined. A group of eight school districts which had special education projects funded through the Texas Education Agency participated in data collection of demographic variables and…

The document reports on the activities undertaken by occupational specialists for junior and senior high schools of Sarasota County, Florida, in the identification and placement of non-returning students or no-shows. The identification of actual and potential no-shows involves several processes and those who request assistance are presented with…

An attempt has been made in this paper to show that the pushout is a complex person, that he has a kaleidoscopic personality, presenting no one image to his peers, his parents, his teachers or his prospective employer. He means many things to many people. If we are dedicated to helping all students succeed optimally, it behooves us to understand…

The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics which describe high school dropouts. The investigation attempted to identify variables which would assist in differentiating persisters and withdrawals at Northeast High School in Kansas City, Missouri and in predicting dropouts at East High School on the basis of variable weightings drawn…

A study of student attrition rates in 15 Florida junior colleges considered students' educational objectives and plans to reach them. Responses show two groups commonly mislabeled dropouts: those who originally planned to take one or more courses and those who left planning to return. Only two percent were considered legitimate dropouts. (JT)

This survey analyzes the characteristics of students who dropped all of their classes at City College of San Francisco (CCSF) before the college's census date. The survey finds that students who drop all of their classes are similar to students who remain enrolled, yet tend to be older, to hold a college-level degree, and to hold at least one…

States that student retention is significant for measuring institutional effectiveness in the prevailing environment of accountability and budgetary constraints. Presents recommendations for increasing retention, including training staff on retention issues, reviewing admission and advising strategies affecting minority populations, and piloting…

In an effort to expand the available data on options for dropouts, a special research study was conducted in Phoenix, Arizona, during the 1979-80 school year. The study investigated why dropouts leave school, why they return, and what they do while they are out of school. It also examined the employment and training opportunities available to…

The first year of a high school dropout prevention program upgraded the academic achievement of its participants and markedly improved their classroom behavior. (CK)

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…

While the number of minority students in postsecondary education has climbed since 1970, the rates of minority graduation are still too low. Factors adding to the dropout rate include: inadequate finances, poor academic preparation, low motivation, poor study habits, low basic skills, and low institutional support. This paper describes support…

This is a study of the dropout rate during the 1998-99 academic year at Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST). A total of 1,025 of 7,174 students (14%) withdrew from their program of study before the end of the year. This report categorizes the reasons for leaving as follows: (1) exited by institute; (2) personal…

In response to the increasing challenge for community colleges to uphold their mission of accessibility with an open door policy, while being held accountable for student success, higher education administrators and counselors need to have a better comprehension on the relationship among community college students, institutional enrollment…