THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS TO DETERMINE IN THE BLOOMINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT THE DROPOUT RATE, DROPOUT CHARACTERISTICS, AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE STUDENT AFTER HE DROPS OUT. THE DATA IS DESIGNED TO BE USED TO DETERMINE WAYS TO REDUCE THE DROPOUT RATE. THE BLOOMINGTON DROPOUT RATE IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL DROPOUT RATE BECAUSE GENERAL…

The purpose of this successful experimental program at the College of San Mateo was to determine whether active participation in an individualized instructional program such as the Learning Center would be related to a lower level of attrition of first-time freshmen who are identified as high probability dropouts. Forty-nine potential dropout…

This study explores whether propensity score methods produce unbiased estimates of program impacts by comparing experimental and propensity score impacts of dropout prevention programs on four student outcomes (dropping out, absenteeism, educational aspirations, and self-esteem). It also estimates the standard error of propensity score impacts…

Texas has the third highest dropout rate in the nation. Various organizations that measure the Texas dropout rate using different methods disagree about actual numbers of dropouts. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) reports that 26,901 students in grades 7-12 dropped out in the 1996-97 school year. Dropouts were 29 percent White, 18 percent African…

All dropouts from Hiawatha High School (Kirkland, Illinois) in the last 3 years were surveyed to determine why they dropped out and what the school could do to deter students from dropping out. Nationally, dropping out is related to poverty, lack of parental support, drug abuse, learning disabilities, and a history of poor school performance.…

Raising graduation rates for students attending schools in the United States is a national priority. As part of the No Child Left Behind Act, schools are required to track and report the percentage of students who graduate with a regular diploma in four years. The magnitude of the problem for student subgroups (including students of Hispanic and…

The purpose of this paper is to describe and comment upon patterns and problems in studies surveyed. These relate to (a) the definition and perception of early school leaving in different settings; (b) incidence and treatment of factors considered as antecedents or consequences; and (c) the research designs and methodology employed. (JB)

Research into the psychological-motivational bases of adult participation to determine the reasons why people do not perservere in adult high school programs. (RB)

Reviews research on the characteristics of the dropout (relationships, socioeconomic status, attitudes, behavior, school performance); the economic and social costs of dropping out; and current efforts for dropout assistance or dropout prevention. (SJL)

Advocates collecting student background, needs, and goals data to match students with appropriate programs and thereby counteract the high dropout rate. Uses medical analogies, in which each case is "curable," but only after assessing all relevant information. Descries the lack of dropout research and suggests a prescriptive admissions policy. (JG)

Results from a study of students from two high schools indicate that by using data from students' permanent records, dropouts could be differentiated with 66 percent accuracy in third grade and with 85 percent accuracy by ninth grade. School-attending nongraduates could be identified with 77 percent accuracy by ninth grade. (IAH)

In the 1988-89 school year, the Austin (Texas) Independent School District's Office of Research and Evaluation undertook a new dropout research project. Part of this initiative, termed Project GRAD, attempted to develop a statistical equation by which one could predict which students were likely to drop out. If reliable predictive information…

This report reviews the literature on early departure from school in America, both past and present, in order to ascertain why students drop out of school, what the consequences are for the students who do so, and what schools can do to reduce the dropout rate. After a brief historical perspective on the problem, the social and economic costs of…

Students drop out of school because of a variety of family, economic, and racial factors that can be categorized as either alienation, lack of motivation, or disadvantage. The key to reducing the dropout rate is helping youth to overcome their sense of disconnection. Students with low motivation to attend school have shown improvement in school…

Some research findings show that vocational education courses deter teenagers from dropping out of high school. Traits identified in potential dropouts by the research include being from a poverty-level home, having a lower intelligence score, and having a lower grade point average. These traits are shared with students in vocational education…