High school dropouts almost always quit school because of a combination of risk factors, many of which are present before the student starts kindergarten, an analysis of data from 44 dropout trend studies concludes.
The study—by Communities in Schools, based in Alexandria, Va., and the National Dropout Prevention Center, at Clemson University in South Carolina—focuses on individual and family factors that make students prone to dropping out. The researchers cite such student risk factors as working long hours in jobs outside of school, having numerous siblings, having multiple interests outside of school, and not talking about schoolwork with family members. The report includes a list of dropout-prevention programs that address the issues in the study.
“Dropout Risk Factors and Exemplary Programs” is posted by the National Dropout Prevention Center.
