Why do a third of American high school students leave school without a diploma? What might help keep them in school, engaged and learning?
A 2006 survey, The Silent Epidemic, put these questions to a group that isn’t usually asked for opinions on American education—high school dropouts. The study found that while some students drop out because of significant academic challenges, most dropouts are students who could have, and believe they could have, succeeded in school. The study sheds light on a number of important questions, including:
Why do students drop out?
- 47 percent of dropouts said classes weren't interesting.
- 43 percent missed too much school and couldn't catch up.
- 38 percent said they had too much freedom and not enough rules.
- 35 percent said they quit because they were failing.
32 percent said they had to get a job and earn money. 88 percent had passing grades, and 70 percent said they could have graduated if they had tried.
- 69 percent were not motivated to work hard; 66 percent would have worked harder if more had been demanded of them.
How do dropouts feel about their decision?
- 81 percent said they now believe graduating from high school is important to success in life.
- 74 percent said if they were able to relive the experience, they would have stayed in school.
- 47 percent agreed it was hard to find a good job without a diploma.
What might have kept dropouts in school?
- 81 percent called for more "real-world" learning opportunities.
- 75 percent wanted smaller classes with more individual instruction.
(43 pages, 1.1 MB, PDF)
About the Report:Prepared by: Civic Enterprises in association with Peter D. Hart Research Associates for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Date Published: March 2006