Dropouts

South Carolina’s black eye: dropouts
Across South Carolina, the numbers of students who leave school before graduating is enormous.

Dropping the state’s economy, one student at a time
Many experts say decreasing the number of high school dropouts is the first step to building the knowledge-based economy South Carolina has pushed for years.

Upstate schools block, tackle for graduation goals
Anderson, Oconee, Pickens and Abbeville schools are using a variety of programs to help prevent students from quitting school before graduation.

One-third of northeast Georgia students quit school
Nearly one student of every three in northeast Georgia doesn’t finish high school.

More stories:

• Sports called good dropout prevention program
• Georgia schools use competition to motivate students, community
• Dropping out is a process, studies find
• Clemson center delves into dropout details
• Dropout problem is severe, but solvable
• GED more than high school diploma
• Definition of ‘Dropout’ varies

James Brown
For years he relied on his body to make a living; now he has to rely on his mind. He never planned to be a 40-year-old student.

Travis Cobb and Julia Liner
A Williamston couple who both quit school, then returned to finish, find that a degree is better than not.

Associated Press Report:

• More than 1 in 10 high schools in America are 'dropout factories'
• Interactive map showing South Carolina, Georgia and other state data on the dropout problem

Extra reading:

• Dropout Rates in the United States, 2004 (PDF)
• Report on Student Dropout and Completion Rates 2001-02, January 2004 (PDF)
• The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts, March 2006 (PDF)
• Sample GED test