Finds that the lowest drop-out rates tend to occur in small rural high schools with a grade span of 7-12. Notes that such schools tend to have limited course offerings and a high percentage of their budgets devoted to extracurricular activities. Suggests that close interpersonal relationships among students and teachers may be a factor in these…

Across the country, grade promotion is tied increasingly to performance on standardized tests. One concern about such policies is that they might increase dropout rates. Policy proponents counter that adverse effects of grade retention should be more than offset by beneficial effects from rising achievement. Using data from Chicago, this study…

Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) Section 49-7-2 (c) (7) requires the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to "submit a biennial report to the governor and the general assembly, commenting upon major developments, trends, new policies, budgets and financial considerations which in the judgment of the commission will be useful to the governor…

As a nation, Kenya hopes to achieve Education for All (EFA) by the year 2015. This is an uphill task given the various challenges in the education sector. The year 2015 is also significant globally because it is the target year for the fulfillment of the eight-millennium goals. Kenya looks forward to have her people achieve the millennium goals…

The purpose of this study was to compare the retention, progression, graduation, and attrition rates of first time freshman enrolled in four-year undergraduate programs at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), and Pittsburg State University (PSU), Pittsburg, Kansas. The characteristics of both schools and the limitations of the study are presented…

A study investigated the low rates of attendance and retention that had beset Atlanta's Family Literacy Program since its inception. To establish a meaningful dialog with participants, a qualitative interview approach was used. The sample was composed of current students, dropouts from Years 1 and 2, and graduates of Year 1. One-third of the…

A longitudinal analysis of students who entered New York City high schools in 1979 supports the perception that most future dropouts can be identified at the beginning of their high school careers. This study examined the records of more than a quarter of the 1979 entering class at New York City high schools. Analyses were performed on attendance,…

This report on the high proportion (25 percent) of California high school students who drop out is divided into five major sections. The first discusses the historical shifts in reform efforts to address, alternately, "relevance" and "excellence." It finds that high school students are now more bored and apathetic than…

Project CATCH assessed differences in high school performance and retention among students who applied to vocational high schools and were denied admission, those who applied and were accepted, and those who had not applied. Data were collected from 2,700 intermediate/junior high school students. Students completed a Survey of Choices--perceptions…

The Occupational Proficiency Training Program (OPT) was initiated in Mitchell County High School, Georgia, to identify potential dropouts, place them in an alternative vocational education program, provide special communications and mathematics assistance, and maintain knowledge through recordkeeping of a student's progress through the program.…

This collection of speeches views long-range planning and program evaluation as the real output of the institutional research practitioner. Long-range planning is discussed from different approaches, methods, technologies, and philosophies. Topics covered are: (1) long- and short-range planning policies and procedures; (2) institutional research;…

At Roane State Community College, a student attrition study was designed to monitor the dropout and/or "stopout" rates. Data was taken from school records and a questionnaire was sent to the 238 students who were enrolled during fall quarter 1973, but did not return for winter quarter 1974. The responses from 198 students indicated that…

In September 1969, a study of dropouts was initiated in the Quincy, Massachusetts public school system. The aims of the research were to determine actual numbers of students leaving school prior to graduation; to analyze factors involved in the decision to leave school; to compare dropouts with a random sample of non-leavers; and to follow up…

Discusses attrition rate in community colleges and orientation and admission procedures that contribute to attrition. Describes a developmental studies program at Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) designed to retain high-risk students through career development efforts as well as remedial education. (DR)

Johnes and Taylor refute the criticisms of McPherson and Paterson on their paper about undergraduate noncompletion rates. Criticism centered on the use of the mean A-level scores of entrants as a measure of academic ability, definition of noncompletion, and omission of student/staff ratios. (MLW)