Reports a study examining the characteristics, study habits, and motivation of students who officially withdrew from the University of Adelaide (Australia) without failing. Causes of first year withdrawal were study being more difficult or less interesting than expected and weak academic motivation. Previously enrolled withdrawals were…

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors and data that influenced the key implementation decisions of a ninth-grade dropout intervention program in a large urban high school in 1987-1988. The school district was composed of 12 high schools, 15 middle schools, and 48 elementary schools, and served approximately 40,000 students. Data…

The Education Commission of the States' (ECS) survey of state initiatives for at-risk youth was conducted during 1987. The goal was to identify programs and planning efforts in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the 3 ECS member territories addressing needs of at-risk youth from preschool through high school. Descriptions of over 650…

Improving graduation rates among U.S. elementary and secondary school students requires that one be able to detect which students are at greatest risk for dropping out. There may be a variety of social and psychological differences between those who leave and those who graduate, but there is also evidence that those who abandon school are…

This report describes and compares different methods used to calculate and report dropout rates; discusses advantages and disadvantages of each method; explains what is known about dropout students; and outlines actions states are taking to reduce dropout rates. Data are presented on whether dropout rates are lower now than in the 1980s in…

Results indicate that in differentiating dropouts from successful clients on the basis of significant mean differences, work behaviors and occupational interests proved to be more important than IQ's or cognitive skills. (Author)

Examined the differences between the home environment and college environment and the personal and academic characteristics of persisting (N=201) and nonpersisting (N=165) students at a major midwestern university. Develops recommendations and guidelines for colleges and universities to help curtail the college dropout problem. (PAS)

This article discusses school-related indicators among learning-disabled adolescents at risk of dropping out and potential interventions. Absenteeism, discipline problems, low achievement, and grades are considered as early warning signals and appropriate/effective teacher responses reviewed. Findings indicate that at-risk students can be…

The number of Native Alaska secondary students choosing not to complete high school is of great concern to educators and Native communities. In this study, schools in small communities throughout western Alaska were observed while teachers and dropouts were interviewed concerning their perceptions of the education process. It became very clear…

Data from an annual study conducted in 1989-90 on the extent and nature of the dropout problem in New Mexico public schools is presented in this document. Data is reported in these categories: annual dropout rate by grade, gender, and ethnicity for grades 9-12 and 7-8; dropout rate by ethnicity and grade; dropout rate by ethnicity and gender;…

In late 1986, the United States Department of Education contracted with Pelavin Associates to conduct a study of the dropout problem in the United States. The research project was undertaken to provide a national overview of the dimensions of the dropout problem, focusing specifically on gender differences; and to identify successful or effective…

The research reported here is part of a larger study investigating differences between successful and unsuccessful (withdrawing) undergraduates at the University of Texas. It focuses on a 36-item list of problems which were rated by 647 withdrawing students during Fall 1969. Responses were subjected to a principal axis factor analysis and rotated…

In the fall of 1971, 678 students, 11.5% of all full-time day students, failed to re-enroll at Hofstra University. For these withdrawers the average GPA and the majors selected were not different from that of the rest of the student body. There were, however, greater proportions of females, lower classmen, junior and senior transfers, and female…

The major purpose of the present study was to answer a series of related questions concerning college dropouts: What is the current dropout rate nationally among students attending colleges in the United States? How do dropout rates vary by type of institution? In what ways do dropouts and nondropouts differ? What factors in the college…