1. High School Dropout Retention
Mary K. Kirk
November 29, 2006

2. Objectives
• To familiarize with statistics
about graduation dropout and
retention
• To learn warning signs of at-
risk youth
• To learn when kids leave
school
• To understand what can be
done to prevent students from
leaving school

3. Who Drops Out of School?
• According to the Department
of Education, the dropout rates
are as follows:
• Native American Students (12.2%)
• Hispanic Students (7.8%)
• African American Students (6.5%)
• Caucasian Students (4.0%)

4. Conflicting Numbers About Graduation Rates
• According to Dr. Lawrence
Mishel of the Economic
Policy Institute, the dropout
rate is roughly nine out of
eleven (82-83%). However,
the dropout rate among
minorities is three out of
four (75%).
• This is based on 4,000,000
that could have graduated in
2003. However, only
2,700,000 actually
graduated.

5. Racial Gap
• The racial gap has
improved but we still have
a long way to go.
• In the 1960s, only 40
percent of African
American Students
graduated with a high
school diploma. Now we
have doubled that.
• There are many different
formulas to compute
dropout rates. However,
the ballpark estimates are
roughly accurate.

6. To Include GED?
• There is now a movement
to include GED graduates
as part of the graduation
rate.
• GED graduates have the
same opportunities that
high school graduates
have:
– Enter college
– Join military
– Obtain job/job training

7. To Include GED?
• However, many of the
same problems stay
with them after
completing the GED.
Including all of the GED
graduates in graduation
rates would be
misleading.

8. Who Is At Risk?
• Repeat One or More Grades
• Low Socioeconomic
Background
• Speak English as a Second
Language
• Become Pregnant or Make
Someone Pregnant
• Frequently Absent/Truant

9. Top 10 Reasons Kids Leave School
1. Poor Attendance
2. Enter GED Program
3. Employment
4. Low or Failing Grades
5. Age
6. To Get Married
7. Pregnancy
8. Suspension/Expulsion
9. Did Not Meet Graduation
Requirements
10. Enter Alternative Program (i.e.
Job Corps)

10. When Do Kids Leave School?
• Between the ages of 15 to 17
years of age
• According to Arkansas law, all
students must be enrolled in
school somewhere until the
age of 18. They can enter a
GED program at the age of 16
with the consent of both
district and parent.
• However, many use home
schooling rules to get around
mandatory education.

11. My Experience
• Students enter GED programs
after they reach the age of 16 in
the state of Arkansas.
• Many of these students have the
same experiences:
• • In trouble with the
Truant/absence law
• FINS cases
s
• In trouble at • Pregnant or have
school/do not child on the way
• Poor
fit in
• Not • Mental health
passing/not issues
• Employment
going to
graduate

12. Grouping Reasons
I group the reasons students leave school into three major
classifications:
Social
• Juvenile Delinquency
• FINS
• Drugs
• Mental Health Issues
School
• Absences/Truant
• In trouble/do not fit in
• Not passing/not going to
graduate
• Retained at least one
year Family
• Pregnant or have child on
way
• Poor
• Employment

13. Social Issues
Juvenile Delinquency
• Innovation
• Retreatism
• Ritualism
• Conformity FINS
• Rebellion • Control
• Parental responsibility
• Abuse
Drugs
• Rise in drug use
• Acceptance of drug use
Mental Health Issues
• Diagnosed mental health issues
• Undiagnosed mental health issues

14. School Issues
Absences/Truant
• Lack of parent control
• Students do not want to be there
• Students do not feel safe
In trouble/do not fit in
• Problems with discipline
• Feel like outcasts/bullying
Not passing/not going to graduate
• Not enough credits
• Not passing and do not want to fail
Retained at least one year
• Are behind and will reach 19 or 20 before
graduate
• No structured programs to catch up

15. Family Issues
Pregnant or have child on way
Throw-away Children/Kindling
Theory
Poor
• Children as possessions
• Society/school is “against them.”
• Cannot afford to go to school
Employment
• Must have job to contribute to family
• Need job to “escape” family

16. Need to Improve Middle School Transition
• Most students drop out at critical
transition points.
• Research shows that students who
participate in programs that help
them transition from middle school
were less likely to drop out.
• Maryland schools have instituted
schools-within-schools, 9th grade
academies, smaller learning
communities, and other strategies
(Legters & Kerr 2001).

17. What Can Be Done to Prevent Dropping Out?
15 identified Strategies - National Dropout Prevention
• Service learning
• Systemic renewal
• Conflict resolution
• Professional development
• Out-of-school experiences
• Early childhood education
• Community collaboration
• Alternative schooling
• Family involvement
• Instructional technologies
• Reading and writing programs
• Individualized instruction
• Mentoring/tutoring
• Learning style/multiple intelligence
strategies
• Career education/workforce readiness

18. What Can Be Done to Prevent Dropping Out?
Northwest Regional Educational
Laboratory has characteristics of
successful dropout prevention programs
(Woods 1999):
• Organization/administration
• School climate
• Service delivery/instruction
• Instructional content/curriculum
• Staff/teacher culture

19. The Most Important Tool To Prevent Dropout
• YOU
• Mentoring is critical to
keeping students in
school.
• The student must have
someone that he or she
can identify with.
• The students who leave
school (dropout) normally
have lost hope in his or her
school success.

20. Methods Used in GED to Retain
Remember important dates in the
students’ lives
• Birthdays
• Christmas
• Illness in student and family
• Let the students know how much you
care
• McDonalds, Pizza Hut, etc. will give free
stuff that you can give to students
• A handwritten note to let the student
know that you were thinking of them can
really make a difference.

21. Methods Used in GED to Retain
Self-addressed and stamped postcards
• The student can send new address
• If the student feels the connection, he or she will
keep in touch.
• The students want their birthday cards. You
might be the only person who remembers their
birthday. This happens more often than you
would think

22. Methods Used in GED to Retain
Communication, Communication,
Communication
• Calls whenever the student is not there, not
just the call to alert the parent that he or she
is absent.
• Cards to let student know you are thinking
about him or her.
• The students need to feel important to
someone. Make yourself that person. Be
respectful and keep the communication lines
open. The students who come to me know
that I will always be up front and honest with
them. This means a great deal to them.

23. Conclusion
• There are many things that can be
done to retain students.
• However, most of the solutions are
administrative changes and are
beyond what a counselor or
teacher can do.
• Becoming a trusted mentor is the
most cost effective and successful
strategy that can be effective.
• Mary’s story.