Dropout Prevention: What Works Clearinghouse

Download Practice Guide (2055 KB)

Summary

Geared toward educators, administrators, and policymakers, this guide provides recommendations that focus on reducing high school dropout rates. Strategies presented include identifying and advocating for at-risk students, implementing programs to improve behavior and social skills, and keeping students engaged in the school environment.

Recommendations

Diagnostic

	Recommendation	Level of Evidence
1.	Utilize data systems that support a realistic diagnosis of the number of students who drop out and that help identify individual students at high risk of dropping out. States, districts and schools should develop comprehensive, longitudinal, student level databases with unique IDs that, at a minimum, include data on student absences, grade retention, and low academic achievement. Data should be reviewed regularly, with a particular emphasis before the transitions to middle school and high school. Source – 2055 KB	Minimal

Targeted interventions

	Recommendation	Level of Evidence
2.	Assign adult advocates to students at risk of dropping out. Adult advocates should have an appropriate background and low caseloads, and be purposefully matched with students. Adequate training and support should be provided for advocates. Source – 2055 KB	Moderate
3.	Provide academic support and enrichment to improve academic performance. Help students to improve academic performance and reengage in school. This should be implemented in conjunction with other recommendations. Source – 2055 KB	Moderate
4.	Implement programs to improve students’ classroom behavior and social skills. Students should establish attainable academic and behavioral goals and be recognized when they accomplish them. Schools can teach strategies. Source – 2055 KB	Minimal

Schoolwide interventions

	Recommendation	Level of Evidence
5.	Personalize the learning environment and instructional process. A personalized learning environment creates a sense of belonging and fosters a school climate where students and teachers get to know one another and can provide academic, social, and behavioral encouragement. Source – 2055 KB	Moderate
6.	Provide rigorous and relevant instruction to better engage students in learning and provide the skills needed to graduate and to serve them after they leave school. Engagement can be increased by providing students with the necessary skills to complete high school and by introducing students to postsecondary options. Source – 2055 KB	Moderate

Released:	August 2008
Topic:	Dropout Prevention
Education Level:	Middle Grades, High School
Audience:	Administrator, Policymaker, Researcher, Teacher
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