Jacqueline Jimenez

Mr. Ochoa 3rd period

HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS

CONTENTS• What is a high school dropout?

• Rate of high school dropouts in the U.S.

• Rate of high school dropouts by ethnicity

• Who makes it through high school?

• Causes of high school dropouts

• Disadvantages of high school dropouts

• How can we prevent high school dropouts?

• Summary

WHAT IS A HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT?• Dropping out is defined as

leaving school without a high school diploma. It refers to a student quitting school before he or she graduates or avoiding entering a university.

RATE OF HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS IN THE U.S.

• It is estimated that the number of high school dropouts annually is about 3.03 million and the number of high school students that dropout each day is about 8000 students.

RATE OF HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS BY ETHNICITY

• As you can see here, the highest rate in high school dropouts is in the Hispanics, Native Americans, and the Pacific Islanders according to the American Community Survey in 2011.

WHO MAKES IT THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL?

15%

17%

22%

24%

21%

Graduation Rate

African AmericanLatinoWhiteAsianTotal

CAUSES OF HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS• Lack of parent engagement

• Poor academic performance

• Work/Family economic needs

• Lack of supportive adult

• Students make wrong decisions (pregnancies, commit crimes, drugs)

• Schools they attend

• Family they come from

• Teachers they have

DISADVANTAGES OF HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS

• Dropping out of high has some serious consequences, and many of them may be life altering.

• Income Loss- a high school dropout will earn $375,000 less over his lifetime than an individual with a diploma.

• Lack of access to higher education- a person will have a difficult time gaining access to financial aid from colleges or trade schools.

• Reduced tax revenue- society will recoup less revenue in less taxes.

• Poor health outcomes- dropouts will face poorer health outcomes; without access to health insurances, students who dropout may not receive health care .

• Increased likelihood of legal trouble- along with the decreased access to higher education and career opportunities makes high school dropouts susceptible to crime and possibly substance abuse.

HOW CAN WE PREVENT STUDENTS FROM DROPPING OUT?

• Provide opportunities for students to experience success

• Expressing high expectations to students

• Building relationship with students

• Creating a family-like classroom atmosphere

• Making the curriculum relevant to students’ lives

• Increase family engagement

SUMMARY• Overall, finishing high school is a rite of passage for young

adults. Only about 85% of students make it through high school earning a diploma, and about 8000 students drop out each day in the U.S. There are many reasons why students drop out of high school such as the students making wrong decisions, nit having support from their family, getting bored in school, the school factors, etc. It is also known that the Hispanics, African Americans, and Native Americans have the lowest graduation rate compared to the Asian and White races. There are also disadvantages to high school dropouts that include low income, no access to higher education, reduced tax revenue, poor health outcomes, and the increase of crime. To prevent dropouts, students must receive their support from their family and teachers.

WORKS CITEDSchargel, Franklin. “The Real Reasons Children Dropout of School.”

Huffpost, 14 October 2013.

Levin M. Henry, Rouse E. Cecilia. “The True Cost of High School Dropouts.”

NY Times, 25 January 2010.