Overview

The following links provide some basic information to describe the high school dropout problem in Massachusetts and nationally.

• Definitions
• Who is Dropping Out?
• Consequences of Dropping Out
• Factors that May Place Students At-Risk

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Factors that May Place Students At-Risk

There are many factors that may place students at risk and contribute to a student's decision to drop out of school. These include school, community, and family related factors. In many cases, no one factor leads to a student's decision to drop out, rather it is a combination of factors. The following list was adapted from the publication by SE Wells (1990) At Risk Youth: Identification, Programs, and Recommendations and the Massachusetts Department of Education 1989 report Changing Schools and Communities: A Systematic Approach to Dropout Prevention.

Examples of School Factors:

• Excessive use of discipline methods such as suspensions
• Disregard of individual student learning styles
• Institutional racism
• Lack of relevant curriculum
• Large enrollment/class size
• Lack of language instruction
• Lack of participation in school governance by key constituents
• Lack of effective student assessment
• Lack of diversity in instructional styles
• Lack of professional development opportunities
• Lack of cross-cultural sensitivity
• Lack of appropriate role models
• Low expectations from staff
• Low parent/community involvement in school
• Negative and/or unsafe school environment
• Passive instructional strategies
• Raised academic standards without adequate school support
• Rigid daily and weekly schedules
• Segregation by ability grouping or tracking

Examples of Community Factors:

• Lack of community support services
• Lack of community support for schools and linkages with schools
• High incidence of criminal activity
• Unsafe neighborhoods
• High unemployment
• Exploitation of youth, including sex trafficking
• Lack of adequate health care
• Lack of affordable housing
• Proliferation of controlled substances

Examples of Family/Home Factors:

• Low socioeconomic status
• Numerous family responsibilities
• No parental involvement in school
• Low parental expectations
• Non-English speaking home
• Child abuse or neglect
• Domestic violence
• High mobility
• Homelessness
• Little opportunity for learning outside of school
• Low educational attainment of parent(s)

Last Updated: July 21, 2009