How to Prevent Students From Dropping Out

“Always keep an open line of communication with your child,” encourages Patel. “They are bound to hide things from you, but let them know that you’ll always have their back if things go wrong. The worst thing you can do is become unapproachable, which leaves your child on an island.”

Talk to your children about your own career path and the paths of others. Help them see the differences between gaining a high school diploma/college degree and how many more doors open for them at each level. When talking about what they want to do with their professional lives, teach them how to find out what educational level is required for interesting jobs.

While it’s good for parents to encourage and champion their children’s abilities, too much of a good thing is a bad thing. If your child seems stressed by too many extracurriculars and expectations, encourage them to prioritize their education and cut back on things causing them stress — at least for a while.

Teachers get to see students in the academic environment more than parents do, so if you’re concerned that your high schooler is considering dropping out, it might be a good idea to contact the teacher or principal to discuss your concerns and brainstorm solutions.

Whether your student finds him/herself struggling with schoolwork, friends, mental health or figuring out what to do in life, find ways to support him or her. Great examples of meaningful interventions include tutors, mentors, psychologists/counselors or career shadowing. Simple acts also make a difference: If your student seems stressed after school one day, ask if he/she wants to go on a walk or go get a meal and chat.

New college students often find the transition from high school to be harder than expected. Remind your student to give it another semester, just another 15 weeks, and perhaps suggest taking fewer credits next semester, if he or she is feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes that can make all the difference.

Whether your student is in high school or college, options exist for other schools that may be a better fit, whether online or on campus. Explore some of the alternatives that may be available, whether a charter or vocational high school, a community college, an online program or something else.

Many programs exist for students looking to take that year between high school and college, or even during college, off from school. These include community service, cultural immersion or tutoring at-risk youth. Or students can simply take a year to travel or work. Families might consider working with students to create a starting and ending point for this gap year to address any issues the student may be wrestling with, such as financial difficulties or a desire to pursue a different field of study.

By identifying issues related to poor attendance, boredom, family obligations or challenging issues early in a child’s educational career, schools have a better chance of changing behaviors and attitudes, creating structure and implementing individualized learning options to help students stay focused on the goal of graduating.

Programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America have proven effective when it comes to helping high-risk students stay the course and graduate. Schools should consider inviting volunteers from these organizations to engage with students and provide a steady adult presence to encourage them.

In addition to losing some of their new skills and knowledge over the summer break, many students face life transitions during these months that may contribute to their decision to drop out. By staying engaged with learners through summer-enrichment or reading-incentive programs, schools have a better sense of what complications may be occurring in students’ lives.

The sad reality is that students who don’t finish high school earn $9,200 less per year than their graduated peers. Additionally, 75 percent of inmates in state prisons didn’t finish high school, and the death rate for those with fewer than 12 years of education is 2.5 times higher than it is for those with 13 or more years of education. It’s worth it to stay in school for myriad reasons.

A decade ago, the Austin Independent School District in Texas created a program to build and strengthen classroom communities by recruiting volunteers to provide career coaching, college advisement, life coaching and one-to-one relationships with students and adults. This model has proven successful and now utilizes the help of hundreds of volunteers each year to support students.

A College Board study found that the cost of private and public institutions continues to rise steadily while available financial aid fails to keep up with the increases. “The price of college needs to lower,” notes Patel. “Colleges know that the loans students take out are guaranteed by the government, so they raise their tuitions with the expectation that the debt will be paid one way or another. For many families, colleges are raising the price for achieving the American Dream.”

Colleges must find ways to lessen the financial burden on students, either through innovative distance-education programs, in-state tuition programs for nonresidents or other alternatives.

According to EAB, approximately 66 percent of learners who leave school without a degree do so because of academic reasons. It’s common to feel overwhelmed when making the transition from high school to college, yet approximately 33 percent of these students stop attending before sophomore year. Colleges must provide introductory classes to help students learn how to study and prepare for the rigors of college.

With student mental health issues on the rise across all colleges, it is vitally important for colleges to step up their services. “Schools have to offer more mental health solutions and destigmatize mental health issues,” says Patel. “This will be a slow process.”

In addition to providing counselors and exercise facilities, some colleges are developing peer-support programs, providing therapy dogs during stressful times and connecting students with Therapy Assistance Online programs.

Rather than letting students with extenuating family circumstances slip away, colleges must find ways to support them. Some of the ways to do this include providing daycare, expectant-parent classes, family housing, spaces for breastfeeding or free children’s meals with the use of student meal plans.

At the end of the day, some students just aren’t a good fit for specific colleges and vice versa. If these institutions adequately convey the experience students can expect to have upon enrollment, the chances of the students becoming displeased and eventually dropping out are lessened.

At both the high school and college level, students shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help if they need it. Regardless of the obstacle at hand, reach out to your parents, a favorite teacher or anyone else in your life whom you trust, and let that person know what’s going on. It may feel stressful at first, but chances are that person has an idea for how to help you.

“Make a study schedule and stick to it,” encourages Patel. “Discipline, not intelligence, is the key to college success, and hard work beats talent when talent refuses to work hard.” Not sure how to go about setting up these goals? “Form study groups and make study guides and flash cards. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals,” says Patel. “It’s effort, not IQ, that counts.”

“A good diet will keep your energy levels high and your mood sustained,” notes Patel. Research shows that diets high in trans fats and saturated fats can affect learning and memory in a negative way, while proper nutrition can improve cognition, concentration and energy levels. Talk to your cafeteria about healthy eating options if you aren’t sure which foods to eat.

“Always keep an open line of communication with your child,” encourages Patel. “They are bound to hide things from you, but let them know that you’ll always have their back if things go wrong. The worst thing you can do is become unapproachable, which leaves your child on an island.”

Talk to your children about your own career path and the paths of others. Help them see the differences between gaining a high school diploma/college degree and how many more doors open for them at each level. When talking about what they want to do with their professional lives, teach them how to find out what educational level is required for interesting jobs.

While it’s good for parents to encourage and champion their children’s abilities, too much of a good thing is a bad thing. If your child seems stressed by too many extracurriculars and expectations, encourage them to prioritize their education and cut back on things causing them stress — at least for a while.

Teachers get to see students in the academic environment more than parents do, so if you’re concerned that your high schooler is considering dropping out, it might be a good idea to contact the teacher or principal to discuss your concerns and brainstorm solutions.

Whether your student finds him/herself struggling with schoolwork, friends, mental health or figuring out what to do in life, find ways to support him or her. Great examples of meaningful interventions include tutors, mentors, psychologists/counselors or career shadowing. Simple acts also make a difference: If your student seems stressed after school one day, ask if he/she wants to go on a walk or go get a meal and chat.

New college students often find the transition from high school to be harder than expected. Remind your student to give it another semester, just another 15 weeks, and perhaps suggest taking fewer credits next semester, if he or she is feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes that can make all the difference.

Whether your student is in high school or college, options exist for other schools that may be a better fit, whether online or on campus. Explore some of the alternatives that may be available, whether a charter or vocational high school, a community college, an online program or something else.

Many programs exist for students looking to take that year between high school and college, or even during college, off from school. These include community service, cultural immersion or tutoring at-risk youth. Or students can simply take a year to travel or work. Families might consider working with students to create a starting and ending point for this gap year to address any issues the student may be wrestling with, such as financial difficulties or a desire to pursue a different field of study.

By identifying issues related to poor attendance, boredom, family obligations or challenging issues early in a child’s educational career, schools have a better chance of changing behaviors and attitudes, creating structure and implementing individualized learning options to help students stay focused on the goal of graduating.

Programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America have proven effective when it comes to helping high-risk students stay the course and graduate. Schools should consider inviting volunteers from these organizations to engage with students and provide a steady adult presence to encourage them.

In addition to losing some of their new skills and knowledge over the summer break, many students face life transitions during these months that may contribute to their decision to drop out. By staying engaged with learners through summer-enrichment or reading-incentive programs, schools have a better sense of what complications may be occurring in students’ lives.

The sad reality is that students who don’t finish high school earn $9,200 less per year than their graduated peers. Additionally, 75 percent of inmates in state prisons didn’t finish high school, and the death rate for those with fewer than 12 years of education is 2.5 times higher than it is for those with 13 or more years of education. It’s worth it to stay in school for myriad reasons.

A decade ago, the Austin Independent School District in Texas created a program to build and strengthen classroom communities by recruiting volunteers to provide career coaching, college advisement, life coaching and one-to-one relationships with students and adults. This model has proven successful and now utilizes the help of hundreds of volunteers each year to support students.

A College Board study found that the cost of private and public institutions continues to rise steadily while available financial aid fails to keep up with the increases. “The price of college needs to lower,” notes Patel. “Colleges know that the loans students take out are guaranteed by the government, so they raise their tuitions with the expectation that the debt will be paid one way or another. For many families, colleges are raising the price for achieving the American Dream.”

Colleges must find ways to lessen the financial burden on students, either through innovative distance-education programs, in-state tuition programs for nonresidents or other alternatives.

According to EAB, approximately 66 percent of learners who leave school without a degree do so because of academic reasons. It’s common to feel overwhelmed when making the transition from high school to college, yet approximately 33 percent of these students stop attending before sophomore year. Colleges must provide introductory classes to help students learn how to study and prepare for the rigors of college.

With student mental health issues on the rise across all colleges, it is vitally important for colleges to step up their services. “Schools have to offer more mental health solutions and destigmatize mental health issues,” says Patel. “This will be a slow process.”

In addition to providing counselors and exercise facilities, some colleges are developing peer-support programs, providing therapy dogs during stressful times and connecting students with Therapy Assistance Online programs.

Rather than letting students with extenuating family circumstances slip away, colleges must find ways to support them. Some of the ways to do this include providing daycare, expectant-parent classes, family housing, spaces for breastfeeding or free children’s meals with the use of student meal plans.

At the end of the day, some students just aren’t a good fit for specific colleges and vice versa. If these institutions adequately convey the experience students can expect to have upon enrollment, the chances of the students becoming displeased and eventually dropping out are lessened.

At both the high school and college level, students shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help if they need it. Regardless of the obstacle at hand, reach out to your parents, a favorite teacher or anyone else in your life whom you trust, and let that person know what’s going on. It may feel stressful at first, but chances are that person has an idea for how to help you.

“Make a study schedule and stick to it,” encourages Patel. “Discipline, not intelligence, is the key to college success, and hard work beats talent when talent refuses to work hard.” Not sure how to go about setting up these goals? “Form study groups and make study guides and flash cards. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals,” says Patel. “It’s effort, not IQ, that counts.”

“A good diet will keep your energy levels high and your mood sustained,” notes Patel. Research shows that diets high in trans fats and saturated fats can affect learning and memory in a negative way, while proper nutrition can improve cognition, concentration and energy levels. Talk to your cafeteria about healthy eating options if you aren’t sure which foods to eat.

A College Board study found that the cost of private and public institutions continues to rise steadily while available financial aid fails to keep up with the increases. “The price of college needs to lower,” notes Patel. “Colleges know that the loans students take out are guaranteed by the government, so they raise their tuitions with the expectation that the debt will be paid one way or another. For many families, colleges are raising the price for achieving the American Dream.”

Colleges must find ways to lessen the financial burden on students, either through innovative distance-education programs, in-state tuition programs for nonresidents or other alternatives.

According to EAB, approximately 66 percent of learners who leave school without a degree do so because of academic reasons. It’s common to feel overwhelmed when making the transition from high school to college, yet approximately 33 percent of these students stop attending before sophomore year. Colleges must provide introductory classes to help students learn how to study and prepare for the rigors of college.

With student mental health issues on the rise across all colleges, it is vitally important for colleges to step up their services. “Schools have to offer more mental health solutions and destigmatize mental health issues,” says Patel. “This will be a slow process.”

In addition to providing counselors and exercise facilities, some colleges are developing peer-support programs, providing therapy dogs during stressful times and connecting students with Therapy Assistance Online programs.

Rather than letting students with extenuating family circumstances slip away, colleges must find ways to support them. Some of the ways to do this include providing daycare, expectant-parent classes, family housing, spaces for breastfeeding or free children’s meals with the use of student meal plans.

At the end of the day, some students just aren’t a good fit for specific colleges and vice versa. If these institutions adequately convey the experience students can expect to have upon enrollment, the chances of the students becoming displeased and eventually dropping out are lessened.

At both the high school and college level, students shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help if they need it. Regardless of the obstacle at hand, reach out to your parents, a favorite teacher or anyone else in your life whom you trust, and let that person know what’s going on. It may feel stressful at first, but chances are that person has an idea for how to help you.

“Make a study schedule and stick to it,” encourages Patel. “Discipline, not intelligence, is the key to college success, and hard work beats talent when talent refuses to work hard.” Not sure how to go about setting up these goals? “Form study groups and make study guides and flash cards. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals,” says Patel. “It’s effort, not IQ, that counts.”

“A good diet will keep your energy levels high and your mood sustained,” notes Patel. Research shows that diets high in trans fats and saturated fats can affect learning and memory in a negative way, while proper nutrition can improve cognition, concentration and energy levels. Talk to your cafeteria about healthy eating options if you aren’t sure which foods to eat.