Misdirected Interventions In When And Why Students Drop Out

In October 2000, the overall picture of high school dropouts had changed little since the late 1980s (Kaufman et al. 2001): For every 100 young adults enrolled in high school in October 1999, 5 had left school without completing a program; of 34.6 million U.S. young adults aged 16-24, 3.8 million—almost 11 percent—had not completed high school and were not enrolled. Some studies have shown that students in schools with a concentration of multiple risk factors (e.g., large schools, large classes, high poverty, inner city location) have less than one chance in two of graduating from high school; furthermore, the economic costs of dropping out have increased as time goes on (Castellano et al. 2001). Adjusting for 50

High school dropout rate is a significant indicator of future success in life. For high school dropouts, it is harder to find jobs and earn as much money as their graduated peers. On the outside looking in, not being able to graduate is usually associated with school performance, socioeconomic status, parents’ education level and/or lack of motivation. Moreover, there are also underlying factors of race and gender and they both affect performance in high school immensely. In order to study dropout rates, focus should be put on the group of students at risk of dropping out.

The dropout problem is not only an individual problem, but it is costly to society as a whole. Warren & Halpen-Manners (2007) explained, “high school dropouts is of fundamental social, economic, and political importance and has major implications for educational policy and practice, patterns of economic and racial/ethnic inequality, and the quality of America’s workforce” (p. 335). Coupled with that, Neild et al (2008) further argued going through the portal into adult life without high school credentials carries severe economic and employment penalties. Also, Kennelly (2007) explained “When students drop out…. the toll of the quality of life and the prosperity and competitiveness of the communities where they live and collectively across

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

In various ways, The Class of 2005: High School Dropouts and this week’s class sent me rushing back into the past. Attending a lower income high school consisting mostly of minority students exposed me to many, if not all, of the factors that contribute to high school dropout. Fortunately, I attended a school that was equipped to deal with the considerable amounts of challenges its student were facing. I can only hope that other schools are as prepared to implement similar programs and have dedicated teachers in order to deal with the problems that today’s youth are

The issue of high school dropouts is a serious concern for educators, policymakers, and the public. High school dropouts experience numerous adverse consequences in response to an incomplete education. For instance, high school dropouts are more likely to lack the skills necessary for successful employment and further education, to be unemployed, to be welfare recipients, and when employed, to make less money, lack health insurance, suffer health problems, and to be involved in crime on average than their peers who did complete (Belfield & Levin, 2007; Rumberger, 2011; Swanson & Editorial Projects in Education, 2009). High school dropouts are also more likely to suffer from depression or other mental health issues (Rumberger, 2011; Swanson & Editorial Projects in Education, 2009). Additionally, dropouts present numerous challenges at a societal level, including a serious socioeconomic problem, given that most are undereducated and ill-equipped to meet the rapidly advancing technological needs of society’s workforce. (Zablocki, & Krezmien, 2012).

Every 26 seconds, a student drops out in the United States, adding up to over 1.2 million students in a single year who do not graduate from high school. The decision to dropout is one that negatively impacts one’s future, considering job choice is consequently limited and unrewarding. As a result, students who dropout will be more often unemployed than those who do get a diploma, and even further more dependent on public assistance, due to not being able to make a sufficient salary. Although there have been steadily, continuously increasing rates of school completion in the past century, dropping out of school is still an existing problem. However, students should retain the right to drop out of high school, before the age of 18 if that is the decision they want to make.

This paper illustrates how raising the high school dropout age to 18 would encourage more students to graduate, reduce dropout rates and produce more productive members into society. Although, some people agree that raising the dropout rate isn’t the best way to address these issues, the inform provided throughout this paper could possibly change that. The task at hand is to inform the reader about the steps that should be taken to raise the dropout age. Since the 1970s, the dropout rates in the United States have gradually decreased, however, there is statistical evidence that proves these rates to be unstable. Raising that dropout age will simply give students more time to think about their life choices and hopefully remain in high school.

College graduation and dropout rates have long been used as a central indicator of education system productivity and effectiveness and of social and economic well-being. Today, interest in the accuracy and usefulness of these statistics is particularly acute owing to a confluence of circumstances, including changing demographics, new legislative mandates, and heightened political pressures to reduce the incidence of dropping out. Students who are unable to pass the assessments may simply leave school before graduating. Not everyone drops out because they lack the determination to finish, instead they run into another obstacle while equipped with the motivation. Those of which are trying to regulate the balance of work and school, unexpected family problems, and financial problems.

Despite the fact that students who complete high school learn more skill than a non-graduate. Turning down the dropout rate in the US has become a main challenge for educators today. Also, dropout has become a disaster in the United States that is incessantly increasing each and every year. Yet, undergraduate students feel that there is no necessity for a high school diploma to leave a healthy life. For instance, they choose not to pursue their education and get involved in crime as well. As it started, “Since 1988 the government has spent more than $300 million on dropout prevention programs” (Rumberger 4). As a matter of fact, the number of students’ dropout is increasing every year. Undergraduates who drop out of High School are more likely to occupy in activities outside of school such as; drugs, cliques, sexual activities, and also, end up in the street doing the illegal crime. Undergraduate dropout not only a problem for students in our community, but it’s a problem to the society as a whole. Over the years, the dropout rate is constantly increasing. Inside out, youth who fails to continue significantly diminish their chances to secure a better paying job. In reality, after school program, will also be a way of restraining high school students from the dropout, successfully engaged, and supported youth. Around 25% of high school, freshman fails to graduate from high school on time as a result of the lack of pressure. For instance, standardize test, many students fail

Most of the time when a student drops out of high school, it is because of bad grades, bullying, or they just don’t want to try. Other times it can just be the consequences of bad parenting. Some people are just looking for a way to get a job and support their child. “About 70 percent of all students who drop out of school early, do so because of teen pregnancy.The drop out rates among pregnant teens is 90 percent across the United States. Fortunately overall teen pregnancy rates are declining, which means dropout rates among pregnant teens are also declining in correlation.” (Teen Pregnancy Statistics, 1)

Thomas Edison once said that “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try one more time” (Edison, 1). High school is a difficult stage in life, where many students are stuck between teenage years and adulthood. With facing so many difficulties in and outside of school, many students feel the need to drop out of school. There are many reasons that high schoolers want to drop out, such as the feeling of boredom, the struggle of failing classes, and the hardships in raising a child. Although, there are many options available for students to remove the idea of dropping out such as joining extracurricular activities, academic tutoring resources, and access to daycares.

Failure to complete high school is not a singular act but a compilation of feeling disengaged from school and personal experiences that have been building for years. There is a voice and a story behind every students’ choice to leave high school before completion. It is vital for parents, educators and policymakers to listen to their stories so they can possibly use their experiences to find early indicators of future students contemplating dropping out. There are many reasons why a student decides to dropout. A student in the 9th or 10th grade may have a different reason why dropping out is their only option than a student in the 11th or 12th grade. Educators and policymakers have been implementing programs throughout the years to tackle the issue of increasing dropout rates in high school.

Scientific studies have established that dropping out is a process rather than an instant phenomenon (Wahlgren & Mariager-Anderson, 2016). This means that a person does not simply decide to stop attending school. Instead, there are many factors that can ultimately make a student decide to not continue attending classes and drop out. For instance, substantial evidence exists that shows that among the strongest determinants of dropping out is poor academic achievement (Rumberger & Sun, 2008). A student who does not do well in his classes may not automatically drop out; instead, this person would likely strive to improve his performance. However, if personal and external circumstances would not allow him to improve his academic performance, this person may be discouraged from finishing his schooling and drop out. Other strong indicators of dropping out are behavioral problems, including, delinquency, substance abuse, and absenteeism. Of the three, substance abuse is likely the strongest since a person who abuses substances would be distracted from his classes and more focused on attending to his addictive behaviors or habits. At the other end of the spectrum, retention of students as well as graduation rates are improved through stable home environments and adequate access to social and financial resources (Rumberger & Sun, 2008). These factors encourage students to do well because their basic needs are met. They can focus on studying and enriching their knowledge.

Teenagers dropping out of high school is becoming more and more common. The number of students who drop out is staggering. "Every year, over 1.2 million students drop out of high school in the United States alone. That is a student every 26 seconds – or 7,000 a day (Do Something Blog)”. The number of high school drop outs grows each year. Students who drop out find it difficult to enter the workforce and find a well-paying job. There are many aspects that cause a student to make the decision to drop out of high school. A common theme for most students who drop out of high school is a lack of family involvement; there are many steps families can take to resolve this matter.