OVERVIEW
KEY FINDINGS
More than two thirds of respondents believe their local schools are diverse.
Q. Would you describe your local schools as racially/ethnically diverse?
Based on a list of 16 attributes, parents were asked to state the importance of each when selecting a school for their child.
Q. Please indicate the importance of each of the following attributes when choosing a school for your children
Dropout Ubiquity
More than half of parents say that they personally know high school drop outs- usually family members or friends.
Q. Do you know any high school dropouts (select all that apply)?
Dropout Estimation
Parents estimate the national dropout rate to be significantly higher than it actually is.
Dropout Causes
Most parents believe that the primary reason students drop out is because they don’t have a parent or teacher who cares about their future. High school can be a challenging environment for students, especially the initial transition into ninth grade. We know that having someone who cares about them- whether it’s a parent, guardian, teacher, or mentor- can make all the difference. In addition to teacher care, parents cited a lack of tangible diploma value, a lack of self-discipline, and the need to get a job to support themselves or their family as primary motivators for a student to drop out of high school.
Q. What do you think are common reasons for a student to drop out of high school?
Support for Dropout Reengagement Programs
Q. Do you think there should be special programs or services available to dropouts who want to reenter school?
Reengagement Strategies
Parents were asked which measure would be the most effective in helping current or at-risk dropouts reengage.
More so than any other measure, parents say that a teacher or staff member who pushes students to succeed would make the biggest difference in getting a student back on track to graduate. Many students who have dropped out or are at-risk of dropping out also have complicated home lives and responsibilities outside of school like a job, a sick parent, or a child or sibling to take care of, and often these duties conflict with high school class schedules. Unsurprisingly, the opportunity to have a flexible schedule ranked second as an effective means for getting students back on track to graduate.
Q. What is most effective for getting current or at-risk dropouts back on track to graduate?
Ninth Grade Transition
Q. How significant do you think a students’ adjustment to high school (their first semester in ninth grade) is as an indicator of whether or not they will drop out?
Support by Student Group
Q. Do you think schools provide enough support to students who struggle emotionally?
Q. Do you think schools provide enough support to students who come from low socio-economic backgrounds?
