DROP OUTS Where do they go and why

1
DROP OUTSWhere do they go and why?

• I. Definition and Misperceptions
• II. Trends Over Time
• III. Data Analysis
• IV. Strategies

2
The NCES definition

• A school dropout is an individual who
• was enrolled in school
• was not enrolled
• has not graduated from high school
• Has not completed a state- or district-approved
  educational program
• does not meet the following exclusionary
  conditions
• transfer to another public school district
• private school
• state- or district-approved education program
• absence due to suspension, illness or death.

3
The four categories of dropouts include

• students 16 years of age or older
• students who leave school and do not return
• students who transfer to another school but
  never report
• students who leave school to enroll in a training
  program, including GED classes.

4
Misperceptions

• Calculation of Annual and Cumulative High School
  Dropout Rates
• Annual Dropout Rate
• (total dropouts total October 1 enrollment of
  Grades 9-12)
• The October 1 enrollment data used in the
  denominator for this formula are drawn from the
  Public School Information System (PSIS) and
  include students in Grades 9-12 enrolled in high
  school or a self-contained, high-school level
  program.
• The annual dropout rate denominator does not
  include those students entering and transferring
  out of school after October 1.

5
Misperceptions

• Cumulative Dropout Rate (total dropouts of the
  class Grade 9 October 1 enrollment of the
  class)
• The cumulative dropout rate
• (total dropouts of the class Grade 9 October 1
  enrollment of the class)
• For example, the graduating class of 2004
  cumulative dropout rate
• (percent of (2000-01 Grade 9 dropouts 2001-02
  Grade 10 dropouts 2002-03 Grade 11 dropouts
  2003-04 Grade 12 dropouts) Grade 9 enrollment
  as reported on October 1, 2000.
• This rate reflects the proportion of students
  within a high school class who dropped out of
  school across four consecutive years.

6
Annual Drop-Out Rate per Class
One enrolled in GED Six enrolled in
GED Four enrolled in GED
7
Cumulative Drop Out Rate per Class Total Drop
Outs/Freshmen Total Enrollment
8
Strategies

• Teacher Support is the key to success!
• Parent Contacts
• Student Meetings/Counseling
• Year-end meetings with students to review credits
• Summer school options (Can we run our own summer
  program?)
• Pre-School meeting about credits
• Progress Reports
• Report Card
• After Suspensions
• Awareness of options associated with a High
  School Diploma (What does it do for you?)
• Awareness of what is left to complete for
  graduation
• Creative ways to earn credit
• Community Service
• ACE project
• Independent Study
• Internships