Education equals opportunity. Although school may seem hard, it is crucial that you stay in school. Don't give up hope! Though dropping out may seem like an easy solution, it would likely make life harder in the long run. For example, dropouts have fewer career options; without a degree, employers may be skeptical as to if you have the skill set to do the job. Also, dropouts are at a disadvantage compared to graduates when job hunting.
High school dropouts have a higher chance of:
- Being unemployed
- Earning less money
- Receiving public help
- Having kids at younger ages
- Being single parents
Career options are limited if you drop out. For example, many high school dropouts become food service workers. For the male population, 2 in 3 high school dropouts are employed, while only 1 in 3 female dropouts are employed.
Normally, dropouts:
- Didn't like school in general or the school they were attending.
- Were failing, getting poor grades, or couldn't keep up with school work.
- Didn't get along with teachers and/or students.
- Had disciplinary problems, were suspended, or expelled.
- Didn't feel safe in school.
- Got a job, had a family to support, or had trouble managing both school and work.
- Got married, got pregnant, or became a parent.
- Had a drug or alcohol problem.
Here are some additional facts about those who drop out:
- Students in large cities are twice as likely as non-urban youth to drop out.
- More than 1 in 4 Hispanic youth drop out, with nearly half leaving by the eighth grade.
- Hispanics are twice as likely as African Americans to drop out. White and Asian American students are least likely to drop out.
- More than half the students who drop out leave by the tenth grade, 20% quit by the eighth grade, and 3% drop out by the fourth grade.
If you are struggling in school and need help, speak to your counselor or teacher. Many schools offer tutoring, after-school programs, and other forms of assistance. Find out what's available at your school. |
