Each year in the United States, approximately 1.2 million students drop out of high school1. That represents about 7,000 students per school day. These statistics are extremely upsetting, but they don’t tell the whole story behind high school dropouts. For example, did you know that 28% of dropouts said their parents were “not at all aware” they were on the verge of quitting school? Or that 8th graders who fail math are significantly more likely to drop out than their peers?
These and other statistics help paint a clearer picture of the real issues driving high school dropouts in America. More importantly, they help educators understand the problem and develop strategies for increasing graduation rates in their schools and communities.
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This datagraphic2 provides a snapshot of national high school dropout rates as well as common factors and characteristics among dropouts. Our aim is to give educators insights into the data they need to identify solutions that will ultimately improve student performance and achieve more successful outcomes.
Click on the image below to see the full datagraphic:
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Infographic Transcript
Understanding Student Data: Dropout Rate and Performance
For educators to achieve better outcomes of student success, it’s important for them to look at the student data, specifically dropout rates and performances.
High School Dropout Rates by State in 2012 averaged 5.2 percent nationwide
State and Dropout Rate3
- Alabama 5.4%
- Alaska 4.4%
- Arizona 7.7%
- Arkansas 5.6%
- California 4.3%
- Colorado 4.7%
- Connecticut 3.9%
- Delaware 5.0%
- District of Columbia 4.5%
- Florida 6.5%
- Georgia 6.2%
- Hawaii 5.5%
- Idaho 7.4%
- Illinois 4.6%
- Indiana 7.4%
- Iowa 4.7%
- Kansas 5.2%
- Kentucky 5.6%
- Louisiana 7.8%
- Maine 4.3%
- Maryland 3.9%
- Massachusetts 3.8%
- Michigan 5.2%
- Minnesota 4.2%
- Mississippi 6.2%
- Missouri 6.0%
- Montana 6.5%
- Nebraska 4.3%
- Nevada 7.9%
- New Hampshire 4.1%
- New Jersey 3.6%
- New Mexico 10.3%
- New York 4.8%
- North Carolina 5.7%
- North Dakota 2.7%
- Ohio 5.2%
- Oklahoma 7.2%
- Oregon 6.1%
- Pennsylvania 5.4%
- Rhode Island 4.0%
- South Carolina 6.4%
- South Dakota 8.1%
- Tennessee 5.4%
- Texas 6.0%
- Utah 3.9%
- Vermont 4.1%
- Virginia 3.4%
- Washington 6.0%
- West Virginia 6.4%
- Wisconsin 4.4%
- Wyoming 2.8%
Common Factors Among Dropouts can include
- Low Attendance: Students who experience chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% of school, are at a higher risk of dropping out.4
- Mathematics: 81% of students who failed math in 6th grade did not graduate high school.5
- Engagement: 69% of dropouts said they were not motivated or inspired to work hard.6
- Parents: 68% of dropouts said their parents only became involved in their education after they learned their child was on the verge of dropping out.6
Drop out Rate by Family Income Quartile7
- Lowest: 9.7%
- Middle Low: 7.3%
- Middle High: 5.4%
- Middle High: 5.4%
Making Improvements
- How student data is collected and interpreted will determine decision making by school leadership
- Data must become part of an ongoing cycle of instructional improvement
- Students must be taught to be conscious of their own data to set personal goals
- Establish a school wide data driven culture
Student leaders must contribute to and oversee the execution of written plans outlining a staged implementation process, professional development session, and measurement strategies that identify and solve problems relating to students’ success. Saint Mary’s University of Educational Leadership program affords future education change agents the vehicle to study these approaches and how to apply them to the real-world settings.
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Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics. “Fast Facts: Dropout Rates.” U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. May 11, 2023. Retrieved Oct. 30, 2023 from https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=16.
- Infographic: The Dropout Crisis in America, BuildOn. Retrieved from https://www.buildon.org/get-involved/get-updates/infographic-the-dropout-crisis-in-america.
- OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. “Statistical Briefing Book > Population Characteristics.” Sept. 21, 2020. Retrieved Oct. 30, 2023 from https://ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/population/qa01506.asp?qaDate=2018&text=yes&print=yes&maplink=link6.
- Chang, Hedy N., Bauer, Lauren, & Byrnes, Vaughan. “Data Matters: Using Chronic Absence to Accelerate Action for Student Success.” Everyone Graduates Center, Attendance Works. Dec. 2018. Retrieved Oct. 30, 2023 from https://www.attendanceworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Attendance-Works-Data-Matters_010919.pdf.
- Renaissance Learning, Inc. “Math milestones: The critical role of math achievement in student success.” Mar. 22, 2018. Retrieved Oct. 30, 2023 from https://www.renaissance.com/2018/03/22/blog-math-milestones-critical-role-math-achievement-student-success/#blog-main-header-2.
- Bridgeland, John M., DiIulio, John J., & Morison, Karen Burke. “The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts.” Mar. 2006. Retrieved Oct. 30, 2023 from https://docs.gatesfoundation.org/Documents/thesilentepidemic3-06final.pdf.
- National Center for Education Statistics. “Trends in High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 2018.” U.S. Department of Education. Dec. 2018. Retrieved Oct. 30, 2023 from https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2019/2019117.pdf.