Study of the Longitudinal Dropout Rate: 1980 Eighth-grade Cohort Followed From June, 1980 Through February, 1985 (From Dropouts, Pushouts, and Other Casualties, P 41-53, 1988, William T. Denton, ed. -- See NCJ-117047)

• NCJ Number: 117050
• Author(s): R S Stephenson
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: Phi Delta Kappa
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study reports dropout rates for a group of 18,820 students in the Dade County (Fla.) Public Schools followed from the end of their eighth grade year in June 1980 to February 1985.

Abstract

The study defined dropout as any student leaving the program before completing a program of studies and receiving either a certificate of completion or a diploma. The analysis excluded students who were graduated, were still in the program, transferred to a school outside the county schools, died, were expelled, or were transferred to the court or a private agency for purposes of custody. A total of 29.5 percent had dropped out. Graduation rates were highest for Asians and lowest for blacks. Fifty-five percent of the dropouts were males. In addition, the dropout rates for exceptional students were higher than those for regular students. Moreover, more than half of the dropouts had probably been retained one or more years by June 1980. However, the dropout rates for students who were not one or more years out of age-grade phase were almost identical for blacks, whites, and Hispanics. Tables and appended methodological information about calculating dropout rates.