A THREE YEAR STUDY, WHICH WAS MADE OF DROPOUTS IN 49 SMALL SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN THE TEXAS SMALL SCHOOLS PROJECT, WAS MADE TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF DROPOUTS, THEIR AGE, GRADE, SEX, AND REASON FOR DROPPING OUT. THREE FIGURES AND THREE CHARTS SUMMARIZE THE RESULTS. THE STUDY REVEALED THAT (1) MORE MALES DROPPED OUT THAN FEMALES, (2) THE AVERAGE…

Four annual attrition studies prepared at El Paso Community College are collected in this document. Each year, a similar followup survey was sent to students who had enrolled in the fall but failed to return for the spring semesters. In all four studies, the major reasons given for leaving college were financial difficulties, transfer to another…

Attrition at Empire State College (ECS) is calculated in terms of three types of counts: temporal, activity, and degree progress. The strategy for assessing attrition using these three quantitative techniques is discussed as are qualitative phone interviews. The attrition rate in terms of a temporal count was 28 percent. Phone interviews with 93…

This paper draws upon interviews with several eminent behavioral scientists who are well acquainted with the American educational scene in order to: 1) glean the latest, freshest ideas from behavioral science; and, 2) to focus the paper sharply upon alienation as seen in its relationship to the schools. First, the origins of the concept of…

Males and females who withdrew from college during their freshman year were divided into withdrawers vs continuers, transfers vs nontransfers, and withdrew passing vs withdrew failing. Responses and follow-up interviews indicated that withdrawal form college can be a positive step toward separation from parents and identity formation. (Author/JAC)

To determine reasons for leaving college, interviews were conducted with 108 undergraduate students who dropped out of an historically black university. Responses from the retention study were used to develop an action program designed to retain enrolled students and to help nonreturning students adjust to their new status. (Author/NB)

Compared White and Black lower status female adolescents (N=94) attending an Alternative School for Dropouts on their perceptions of women's work role. No significant differences were found. Both Whites and Blacks took egalitarian positions concerning women's role in the labor market more strongly when compared to the home dimension. (JAC)

This report describes the attrition rate at Johnson County Community College (JCCC) (Kansas). The overall attrition rate for classes starting in fall 2000 was nearly 12%--during the fall semester 4,652 students dropped classes. Useable drop surveys were completed for 93% of those classes. Findings indicated that: (1) the Science, Math, and Health…

Compares Dutch secondary school students and dropouts about their knowledge of AIDS prevention, attitude toward condom use, intention to use condoms, sexual history, and condom use. Reports that contrary to expectations, few differences were found. Concludes that knowledge and attitudes of dropouts was similar to students. (Author/JDM)

A study explored the definition of the concept of faculty/advisor communicaton apprehension (CA), and tested an instrument to identify CA in incoming college freshmen, with a view toward retention of students. An existing interpersonal CA measure, the Interpersonal Communication Apprehension subscale of the PRCA-24 (24-item version of the Personal…

Focusing on the high school dropout problem in Austin, Texas, this report presents statistics on dropouts, describes characteristics of dropouts, examines reasons for and consequences of dropping out, and explores how to prevent this problem. The report indicates that: (1) Hispanics drop out at higher rates than Blacks or Whites; (2) males drop…

This study was conducted to develop a means for implementing proven recruitment strategies to attract and retain students in postsecondary vocational programs in Florida. In order to achieve this purpose, the following objectives were set: (1) to identify methods to overcome the most significant barriers to student retention identified by…

This is an imaginary first-person account of a 15-year-old Portuguese student who has spent a year and a half in an American high school. While conceding that the language barrier did prove difficult for him at first, the student says that language was not the overwhelming problem he expected it to be. He proceeds to explain six features of life…

A study of 215 inactive students (1973 to the end of the summer semester 1977) of the School of Technical Careers (STC) Baccalaureate Program was conducted to answer three questions: (1) How do inactive students differ from graduates?; (2) Why did they leave the Baccalaureate Program?; and (3) What have they done since leaving the program? Major…

Using an exchange theory perspective, this study evaluates the degree to which school rejection policies and racial discrimination contribute to the decision of black students to disengage from the education exchange process and drop out of school. In the exchange theory perspective the student is viewed as a party in an exchange relationship with…