NCJ Number
147325
Date Published
1984
Length
140 pages
Annotation
Because aggregate data suggest that Hispanic youth drop out of high school at a rate far greater than that of whites or blacks, 1979 freshman cohorts from two predominantly Hispanic high schools in Chicago were studied to investigate dimensions and causes of the Hispanic dropout problem.
Abstract
At the end of 4 years, only 26 percent of entering freshmen were confirmed graduates. Interviews with a stratified sample of 201 youths revealed that fear of gangs was the most frequent reason given for leaving school. An analysis of official records found that the formula used by Chicago and the State of Illinois to compute the dropout rate was inappropriate and vastly misrepresented the dropout problem. For white, black, and Hispanic students in the class of 1983 for all Chicago public high schools, the dropout rate was estimated to be 47 percent. Study findings raise questions about the reliability of official documents, the traditional explanation of dropouts based on academics, and school reassurances that gangs do not constitute a serious problem. Three steps are recommended to reduce the high dropout rate in Chicago public schools: (1) accurately assess the dropout problem; (2) recognize that gang influence does not stop after school; and (3) recognize that schools comprised primarily of Hispanic students must be treated as a subculture. Appendixes contain the questionnaire and information on data collection procedures. 59 references and 16 tables