Inadequate Preperation- Dropout Rate

Because too many students are not learning the basic skills needed to succeed in college or work while they are in high school, the nation loses more than $3.7 billion a year. This figure includes $1.4 billion to provide remedial education to students who have recently completed high school. In addition, this figure factors in the almost $2.3 billion that the economy loses because remedial reading students are more likely to drop out of college without a degree, thereby reducing their earning potential. (Adelman: 149)

Of those who enter high school, only about 70 percent will graduate—one of the lowest rates among industrialized nations. As important, however, is the fact that, of those who do receive a diploma, only half are academically prepared for postsecondary education. A recent study of high school juniors and seniors taking the ACT college entrance exam confirms this; half of the students were ready for college-level reading assignments in core subjects like math, history, science, and English.

Despite these daunting statistics, the vast majority of America's high school students are optimistic about their prospects for the future, which they anticipate includes both higher education and rewarding careers. In fact, according to a recent national survey, an overwhelming 81 percent of high school students expect to attend college. This is a wise goal, since 80 percent of the fastest-growing jobs in the United States require at least some postsecondary education, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

For some students, getting accepted to a university is only the first in an uphill battle toward a degree. Persevering long enough to graduate can be just as challenging.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau revealed in 2000 that one in three Americans drops out of college. This is an increase from the 1960s when one in five discontinued his or her studies.

Some studies indicate that a considerable proportion of college dropouts come from low-income families. The U.S. Department of Education found that 41% of low-income students enrolled in a four-year institution managed to graduate within five years. For higher income students, this jumps to 66%. Of the low income students that did not return, 47% left in good academic standing. (ACT: 120)

Though research links financial difficulties to dropout rates, there are a number of factors that account for why students decide to leave school. Students tend to drop out because their expectations of college—academically, socially, or both—don't match up with the reality once they get there. They also suffer from lack of motivation, inadequate preparation, and poor study skills.

Many students cite lack of engagement in and relevance of courses as a reason for poor performance or dropping out. Engagement correlates with improved learning outcomes, including a stronger understanding of concepts, a better retention of learned material, and the ability to apply that learning to different contexts. It also deepens and/or accelerates learning through increased time on task, active learning strategies, and stronger interaction. Deeper engagement has a positive effect on students' persistence, particularly in the first two years ...