Dropout Prevention
There are a number of key long-term outcomes related to high school graduation, ranging from economic and financial opportunities to health and wellbeing. Dropout prevention requires a concerted effort from school counselors and allied professionals across all three domains outlined in the ASCA National Model (academic, social-emotional, and college/career planning) in order to support students in achieving this milestone.
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Web Resources
General Information
Geared toward educators, administrators, and policymakers, this What Works Clearinghouse practice 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.
National High School Center- Approaches to Dropout PreventionHeeding Early Warning Signs with Appropriate Interventions: This report provides information on who is dropping out, risk factors, how to predict potential risk, Early Warning Data Systems, best practices in schools, and highlights dropout prevention programs.
Facts and figures on drop outs, including rates and demographics.
Prevention Dropout in Secondary Schools
This What Works Clearinghouse practice guide provides school educators and administrators with four evidence-based recommendations for reducing dropout rates in middle and high schools and improving high school graduation rates. Each recommendation provides specific, actionable strategies; examples of how to implement the recommended practices in schools; advice on how to overcome potential obstacles; and a description of the supporting evidence.
Early Warning Indicators and Systems
Alliance for Excellent Education- Using Early-Warning Data to Improve Graduation Rate
A policy brief by Lyndsay Pinkus on Early-Warning data and EWI systems, using data to develop strategies to intervene, and a discussion of policies to support EWI implementation.
National High School Center - Developing Early Warning Systems to Identify Potential High School Dropouts
A report on student dropout which summaries research on early warning indicators and provides information on both school-level and district-level early warning systems. Specific information can be found for indicators to look for and how to calculate these, building a system and using it to target interventions, and monitoring progress in the school.
Journal Research Articles
LONGITUDINAL PREDICTORS OF HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION
Barry, M., & Reschly, A.L. (2012). Longitudinal predictors of high school completion. School Psychology Quarterly, 27(2), 74-84.
DROPOUT PREVENTION: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS
Blount, T. (2012). Dropout prevention: Recommendations for school counselors. Journal of School Counseling, 10(16), 1-33.
Full Article
DO WE KNOW WHO WILL DROP OUT? A REVIEW OF THE PREDICTORS OF DROPPING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL: PRECISION, SENSITIVITY, AND SPECIFICITY
Bowers, A.J., Sprott, R., & Taff, S.A. (2013). Do we know who will drop out? A review of the predictors of dropping out of high school: Precision, sensitivity, and specificity. The High School Journal, 96(2), 77-100.
EFFECT OF THE TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION PROGRAM ON GRADUATION, COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE AND DROPOUT RATES FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING AN URBAN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL
Colbert, R. D. (2013). Effect of the transcendental meditation program on graduation, college acceptance and dropout rates for students attending an urban public high school. Education, 133(4), 495–501.
ORGANIZING SCHOOLS TO ADDRES EARLY WARNING INDICATORS (EWIs): COMMON PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES
Davis, M., Herzog, L., & Legters, N. (2013). Organizing schools to address Early Warning Indicators (EWIs): Common practices and challenges. Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk, 18, 84-100.
SCHOOL DROPOUT INDICATORS, TRENDS, AND INTERVENTIONS FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS
Dockery, D. J. (2012). School dropout indicators, trends, and interventions for school counselors. Journal of school counseling, 10(12), n12.
EXAMINING ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AMONG STUDENTS REPEATING THE NINTH GRADE: IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL DROPOUT PREVENTION
Iachini, A. L., Petiwala, A. F., & DeHart, D. D. (2016). Examining adverse childhood experiences among students repeating the ninth grade: Implications for school dropout prevention. Children & Schools, 38(4), 218-227.
THE CHALLENGE OF IMPROVING URBAN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION OUTCOMES: FINDINGS FROM A RANDOMIZED STUDY OF DROPOUT PREVENTION EFFORTS
Mac Iver, M. A. (2011). The challenge of improving urban high school graduation outcomes: Findings from a randomized study of dropout prevention efforts. Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk (JESPAR), 16(3), 167-184.
THE ABCs OF KEEPING ON TRACK TO GRADUATION: RESEARCH FINDINGS FROM BALTIMORE
Mac Iver, M.A., & Messel, M. (2013). The ABCs of keeping on track to graduation: Research findings from Baltimore. Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk, 18, 50-67.
Abstract and Journal Access
SCHOOL COUNSELORS' ROLE IN DROPOUT PREVENTION AND CREDIT RECOVERY
Tromski-Klingshirn, D., & Miura, Y. (2017). School counselors' role in dropout prevention and credit recovery. Journal of School Counseling, 15(4), n4.
EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF A SUMMER DROPOUT PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR INCOMING FRESHMEN ATTENDING AN UNDER-RESOURCED HIGH SCHOOL
Vera, E., Shriberg, D., Alves, A., Montes de Oca, J., Reker, K., Roche, M., Salgado, M., Stegmaier, J., Viellieu, L., Karahalios, V., Knoll, M., Adams, K., Diaz, Y., & Rau, E. (2016). Evaluating the impact of a summer dropout prevention program for incoming freshmen attending an under-resourced high school. Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth, 60(2), 161-171.
A HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR AT-RISK STUDENTS
Wallace, C. M. (2016). A high school dropout prevention program for at-risk students (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University).
A NETWORK PERSPECTIVE ON DROPOUT PREVENTION IN TWO CITIES
Wells, R., Gifford, E., Bai, Y., & Corra, A. (2015). A network perspective on dropout prevention in two cities. Educational Administration Quarterly, 51(1), 27-57.
DROPOUT PREVENTION INTERVENTION WITHIN SECONDARY STUDENTS: A PILOT STUDY OF PROJECT GOAL
Wexler, J., Pyle, N., & Fall, A. M. (2015). Dropout prevention intervention with secondary students: A pilot study of project GOAL. Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth, 59(3), 142-152.
THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR'S ROLE IN SCHOOL DROPOUT PREVENTION
White, S.W., & Kelly, F.D. (2010). The school counselor’s role in school dropout prevention. Journal of Counseling & Development, 88(2), 227-235.
DROPOUT PREVENTION IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS: FROM RESEARCH TO PRACTICE
Wilkins, J., & Bost, L. W. (2016). Dropout prevention in middle and high schools: From research to practice. Intervention in School and Clinic, 51(5), 267-275.
Full Article
DROPOUT PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS: EFFECTS ON SCHOOL COMPLETION AND DROPOUT AMONG SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Wilson, S. J., Tanner‐Smith, E. E., Lipsey, M. W., Steinka‐Fry, K., & Morrison, J. (2011). Dropout prevention and intervention programs: Effects on school completion and dropout among school‐aged children and youth. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 7(1), 1-61.
Curriculum Materials
Center on Instruction
The Center is a clearing house of information on research based best practices for instruction to improve achievement in schools.
National Dropout Prevention Center/Network (NDPC/N) Effective Strategies
Fifteen effective strategies that NDPC/N found to have the most positive impact on dropout rates. Each strategy is highlighted and includes links with related resources and model programs.
Talent Search Program
As part of the Federal TRIO Programs, Talent Search is a high school dropout prevention program designed to promote college enrollment and completion for low-income students.
The Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) Valued Youth Program is a dropout prevention program that identifies middle and high school students at risk of dropping out. These students become tutors to elementary aged students that are also struggling in school.
What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Project GRAD Program Report Summary
Report summary for Project “Graduation Really Achieves Dreams” (GRAD). The full report can be downloaded from this website as well.
What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Talent Search Program Report Summary
Report summary for Talent Search. The full report can be downloaded from this website as well.
Evidence-Based Interventions
Tier 1, Grades 6-12
A national collaborative program that looks to prevent school dropout and improve high school graduation rates.
What Works Clearinghouse: Dropout Prevention
Tier 2, Grades 6-12
A Federal Department of Education guide that includes information on warning indicators and reviews educational research on dropout prevention.
Books & Book Chapters
Hines, E. M., Singleton II, P., Hines, M. R., Ángeles, S. L., Wathen, B. J., & Brown Jr, D. (2022). Factors Impacting Postsecodany transitions for black students. In E. Hines & L. Owens (Eds.), Equity-Based Career Development and Postsecondary Transitions: An American Imperative. (163-184). Information Age Publishing.
Reschly, A. L. (2020). Dropout prevention and student engagement. In Student engagement (pp. 31-54). Springer, Cham.
Goss, C.L., & Andren, K.J. (2014). Dropout prevention: The Guilford practical intervention in the schools series. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Schargel, F.P., & Smink, J. (2013). Helping students graduate: A strategic approach to dropout prevention. New York, NY: Routledge.
Rumberger, R.W. (2011). Dropping out: Why students drop out of high school and what can be done about it. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.