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
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)