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