Indicator: 31 - High School Drop-Outs

Why This Is Important

High school drop-outs have lower earnings, experience more unemployment, and are more
likely to end up on welfare and/or in prison than their peers who complete high school. Women
who drop out of high school are more likely to become pregnant and give birth at a young age,
and are more likely to become single parents.

 

 

Where We Stand

For the 2002-2003 school year, slightly under 3% of all public school students enrolled
in grades 9-12 dropped out of school before graduation or completion of a program of
studies. Maine consistently ranks among the top ten states in the country in high school
completion and low drop-out rates. There was little movement on this indicator over time
until the 2000–2001 school year, when the percentage of drop-outs started to decline.

Data Sources and Context

The source for this data is the Maine Department of Education; figures are available
on-line for the state, counties and individual schools at: http://www.maine.gov/education/enroll/dropouts/dropdeftip.htm. A high school drop-out is
defined as any person who has withdrawn or been expelled from high school before
graduation or completion of a program of studies, and who has not enrolled in another
educational institution or program. Each local educational unit submits drop-out reports to
the Department of Education as of the last day of school, counting all students who dropped
out during the previous calendar year. The rate is calculated as a percent of all students
enrolled in grades 9-12 during the school year.