Dropout
- Students stop attending school before finishing their program, often before graduation.
- Common contributing factors include academic difficulties, behavioral problems, and financial constraints.
- Consequences affect individuals (lower earnings, higher unemployment, worse health) and society (higher crime, social inequality, lower productivity, greater social-service costs).
Definition
Section titled “Definition”Dropout is a term in education that refers to the phenomenon of students leaving school before completing their studies.
Explanation
Section titled “Explanation”Dropout can result from multiple causes described in the source: academic difficulties that lead to falling behind; behavioral problems that lead to suspension or expulsion; and financial constraints that make continued attendance untenable. Without adequate support from teachers, peers, or institutions, affected students may disengage and stop attending.
Consequences occur at both individual and societal levels. For individuals, dropping out can lead to lower earning potential, increased likelihood of unemployment, reduced access to social and economic opportunities, and negative impacts on physical and mental health. For society, dropout can contribute to increased crime rates and social inequality, a less educated and less productive workforce, and higher costs for social services such as healthcare and welfare.
Prevention efforts noted in the source include providing support and resources for struggling students, implementing interventions for students with behavioral problems, and offering financial assistance to students from low-income families. Addressing the multiple contributing factors can be challenging.
Examples
Section titled “Examples”Academic difficulties
Section titled “Academic difficulties”A student who struggles with coursework and begins to fall behind may feel overwhelmed and frustrated, start skipping classes or stop attending altogether, and—without support and guidance from teachers and peers—may find it difficult to catch up and ultimately decide to drop out.
Behavioral problems
Section titled “Behavioral problems”A student who experiences behavioral problems, such as acting out or engaging in risky behaviors, may be suspended or expelled and lack the support or resources to return and continue their studies; in this situation the student may become disengaged from school and ultimately decide to drop out.
Notes or pitfalls
Section titled “Notes or pitfalls”- Addressing the factors that lead to dropout can be challenging.
- Effective preventive approaches mentioned in the source are limited to: providing support and resources for struggling students; implementing interventions for students with behavioral problems; and offering financial assistance to students from low-income families.
Related terms
Section titled “Related terms”- Academic difficulties
- Behavioral problems
- Financial constraints
- Social services (healthcare, welfare)
- Unemployment
- Crime rates
- Social inequality
- Workforce productivity