| Menu | Dropping Out
of School - March 2000
It has been known for many years now that young people who drop out of school face many more problems later in their life than do people who graduate. While national leaders have demanded that schools, parents,and teachers are to make a major effort to prevent this the drop out rate still remain high. Students drop out for many differnt reasons, but the consequences of leaving can be great. They have listed both school and personal problems as reasons for dropping out: Didn't like school in general or the one they were attending. Had a drug/alcohol problem. Got married, became pregnant, or became a parent. Got a job, had a family to support, or had trouble managing both school and work.Some didn't get along with teachers, or had a disciplinary problem. Students in large cities are twice as likely to leave school before graduating rather that non-urban youth. Hispanics are twice as likely as African Americans to drop out, White and Asian American Students are least likely to drop out. More than half the students who drop out leave by tenth grade, 20% quit by the eighth grade, and 3% drop out by fourth grade. If all else fails, please help students like this find a GED program and encourage them to stay with it until they get an alternative high school diploma. Dropping is no excuse, nor does it have a good reason. We are today's youth and tomorrows leaders. |
Assistant Editor: Brittany