High School Dropouts

In a society which is relying increasingly on education, graduating high school is quickly becoming an important accolade to ensure a student’s success in society. According to a study completed in July of 2011, high school dropouts cost between $320 billion and $350 billion annually in lost wages, taxable income, health, welfare and incarceration costs. (Zhao, 2011) As well as the financial impact, there are many other aspects that should be addressed when looking at high school dropout rates. The most prevalent example is the fact that systematically, the education system has shown significant signs of unbalance in the distribution of dropout rates across different races and or ethnicities. In 2009, 4.8 percent of of blacks and 5.8 percent of Hispanics between 15 and 24 dropped out of grades 10-12, compared with 2.4 percent for white students. (Zhao, 2011) With statistics like this, it is important that we not only ensure our education system is operating in a successful way, but also providing equal education and opportunities for students of all races, ethnicities, income levels, and religious backgrounds. By examining our education system, we as educators will be able to address and hopefully resolve the issues related to the unequal dropout rates in high schools across the nation.

Students who dropout of high school before the age of 18 put their well-being at risk later on in life. According to BMC Public Health’s study focusing on over 3146 dropout students ranging in age from 20-29, “Poor mental health was present in 24% of the participants.” This emphasizes the fact that if teenagers drop out of high school they hurt their health because they go into a depressive state easier than their classmates who graduate. As a result of the depression, they go unemployed. This continues into a lack of anything to do and stress of unpayable bills. Finally, the data suggests that students should not be allowed to dropout without a diploma because when these students go into an unhealthy mental state, they can lose connection with their family or lead to worse situations making it even worse. Also in the radio interview, Missy Remiss, an education

Sociologists and psychologists have studied and documented high school dropout rate for many decades. Their focus has been put on statistics of different races/ethnicities, age groups and gender as well as underlying factors of why people drop out. Comparing the dropout statistics of different races is a common theme amongst many sociologists’ studies. The extent of their research addresses many significant aspects of high school drop out but fail to shed light on the differences within races between the two genders.

In life there are many struggles that interfere with a students education. In the 1970s, the United States had the world’s highest high school graduation rate. Today, we are ranked number twenty-one which shows a decrease in students that graduate. Lowering the dropout rate can solve several economic and social problems. Dropping out of high school has become a controversial topic that will continue for ages to come. Students should be required to stay in school until the age of eighteen because those without a high school diploma have higher unemployment and lower job satisfaction, have lower earnings, and have a higher likelihood of ending up in jail or on public assistance

The path to graduation can be long, unpredictable and quite confusing. This article “California Dropout Research Project” shows how the Los Angeles School District tried to explain what are the factors that come into to place that prevent certain student from graduating high school on time. Some of the factors are race, gender, and income. The chapter that mainly focuses on income indicates in order understand dropout crisis requires understanding the academic and

Our education is of vital concern because it helps all individuals to develop knowledge, but it is also the key that opens a huge field of opportunities in a world that is constantly innovating and is rapidly industrializing in technology and in science. At present professional jobs are very competitive; therefore, education is important if we want to attain success. According to Frank Daley in the article “Skip Navigation Why College Students Drop Out and What We Do About It.” There are many reasons that drive students to drop out of college in their freshman year; unpreparedness is one of the causes. Thus, it should be a priority for colleges to work an identifying students at risk of dropping out of school, due to their

In recent times, there has been significant rise in high school dropout rates in United States of America. This issue has significant attention of academics and researchers and is known as "silent epidemic" as more and more American teenagers are dropping out from schools before graduation (Bridgeland, DeIulio& Morison, 200). Reports suggest that the high school dropout rates before graduation in minorities has reached 50 percent since last decade(Bridgeland, DeIulio& Morison, 202, Ferris & West, 69). The issue of dropout rates had been ignored for years and thus, in recent times, the graduation rate has decreased significantly at such an level that is has threaten the wellbeing and welfare of American society. The goal of this paper is to analyze the causes of high rates of high school dropouts in the lights of broad and diverse academic resources.

Did you know that 1.2 million high school students drop out of school every year just in the United States alone (11 Facts)? The decrease of high school graduation rates is a fairly important issue, and there are plenty of reasons to propose a change. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the current standard dropout rate of high school students is 7.4%. High school dropouts encounter way more difficulties and challenges than a high school graduate would. An average high school drop out lacks the basic education that one needs in order to be successful in life. They are more likely to face problems dealing with financial insecurity, communication skills, and of course, educational matters. With a high school diploma, one is more likely to get hired for a job, earn a higher income, and educate oneself even further. Some possible causes of high school students dropping out include stress, boredom, family problems, pregnancies, and drugs. With that said, with every issue, there is always a solution. By taking the problem at hand and looking at it from a broad perspective, we can thoroughly identify the source of the high dropout rates of U.S. high school students. There are countless factors that may be the cause of this epidemic, but a few ideas including making learning more relevant, limiting the workload given to students, and providing mandatory classes on drugs and safe sex may possibly be a solution to this

Many policy makers in the United States have becomes especially concerned about the alarming rate of persistently high school student’s dropout rates. But, improving high school dropout and graduation levels continues to be a strong educational challenge in the United States. Because, every year almost half a million students drop out of school (U.S. Census Bureau 2007). More importantly as Rumberger claimed that “an even greater number about one-third of all students who enter high school in the ninth grade fail to graduate fours later “(as cited in Robert &Russell 109). Graduation rates among underrepresented minority students in particular Latinos and African American are even lower (Alliance for Excellent Education 2007). And as Kelly

In a rural area just outside of Chicago, 150 students marched at the graduation ceremony. That is a far cry from the 300 students that enrolled as freshman just four years ago. This is not an inner city school, but it is a reminder that there is a crisis in our nation. The high school dropout problem is everywhere. Speakers at graduation ceremonies talk about the aspirations and big dreams of the graduating class. No one ever mentions or notices the bleak futures of their peers who chose to dropout before receiving their diplomas. The reasons for dropping out vary by race, sex and community. Teenagers live in the present moment, never looking too far ahead to realize what the consequences could be if they left high

It is a big concern for many in the United States dealing with high school dropouts. Ever year the rate of high school dropouts is increasing at a rapid pace than expected. The dropout rate of persons under the age of 18 has risen from 8.1% in 2009 to 9.2 % in 2012 according to the National Center for Education Services. These kids are leaving school at a young age and have a lot of spare time on their hands and when this occurs, persons around their years of 18 can end up in trouble. The education system of the United States are trying their best to keep these children in school and earn their education. There are some states that already have programs and laws that requires children to attend high school till they graduate with their

As one can see in the past staying in school was mandatory and people were looked down if one did not finish school. Now in days’ students are quick to drop out and more parents are allowing it to happen. The rate of students who attend school and drop- out is tremendously high. As a student who thought about dropping out due to many encounters in life, but chose to stay in school and get an education changed who I am today. After all, each individual has a different perspective of whether high school should be mandatory both know it can only better one self. Attending high school will have challenges along with, but make it worth going for.

Students cannot have high achievements until they meet the school standards and expectations. Tom Precious, in his article “Drop Out Age,” states “too many young people fail to recognize that it is nearly impossible to meet the demands of modern society and to live successfully without at least a high school education” (Precious 1). It is inferred that due to a lack of family encouragement, students fail to realize that education is one of the key factors needed for the workforce. According to the article, “the lawmakers said that in the 1996-97 school year, 27,629 students in New York high schools dropped out” (Precious 1). This means that the students’ attitudes are negative regarding school, and they have absolutely no value in education due to the way they were raised. Students have no interest in achieving high results needed for a successful future. There are numerous disadvantages of a dropout. On average, a dropout earns less money, more likely to be in jail, less healthy, less likely to be married, and is unhappier than a high school graduate. Therefore, students must be motivated and must have a positive attitude about school in order to avoid such discrepancy. This problem disproportionately affects low-income students as well as minority students. As stated in the article, “the legislation comes as the Board of Regents is moving to raise the educational bar for high school students--a move that many educators support but fear could lead to an increase in the dropout rate. In the coming years, students will have to pass five Regents exams in order to graduate” (Precious 1). This change may force the students to work harder and be motivated in order to pass high school and graduate. In addition, a key element is for all states to increase their minimum school-leaving age to 18. This intervention significantly improves many

Another personal related problem is jobs. Most students are working part-time in order to support themselves and their family which at times will lead to intrusion with school hours, home works, no time for studying especially to major exams and various school activities which otherwise leads to failing grade. Peer pressure is also another factor wherein these students are being led to bad influences such as drinking, drug which causes a major side effect to students (Schwartz, 1995). Schools do this in order to handle their problem. Students from broken homes are also likely to drop out of school due to the stressful situation that they have to go through and thus affect their concentration in school. Furthermore, most students who dropped out of school don't like school to begin with. These students will rebel and do anything against the school rules in order to be kicked out (Schwartz, 1995). They are likely to fail on their subjects, doesn't get along with other students, and have disciplinary problems. Oftentimes, disciplinary actions are taken before they are dropped out.

Will negatively affect a student's future. Bob Keeshan once said,”Children don't drop out of High School when they are 16 they do so in the first grade and wait 10 years to make it official.” Throughout the years studies have shown that in a year 1.2 million students drop out. Which leads that only 25% of High School students during their freshman year fail to graduate. Dropouts in the United States have became a very trending thing we must get to the bottom of this problem. Young adults should not be making these decisions it's time to step in.