Phoenix Schools Tackle Dropout Rate

The schools in the United States are considered toschool but do nothing while they are there, and
be "in crisis" due to the soaring student dropout rate.• Forced-Out Dropouts - students who
In his first State of the Union Address, Presidentwere "counseled out" by school counselors and
George W. Bush stated that the national dropoutadministrators.
rate was 25 percent.Phoenix Schools are addressing all three types of
A recent study conducted by the Center for Labordropouts. Their initiatives are focused on engaging
Market Studies at Northeastern University puts thethe students, rather than excluding them. They know
current national dropout rate at 25 to 30 percent.that programs alone will not change the dropout rate.
Additionally, it indicated that males have the highestOnly people and relationships can make a difference.
dropout rate of 20 to 30 percent and are most likelyPhoenix schools work with businesses, community
"at risk" of not graduating from high school with aorganizations and others to identify and develop
diploma.effective strategies for keeping students in school.
It is said that when a student drops out of school,They are working to improve student academic
he/she drops into the criminal justice system. Insuccess, believing that the high school renewal
2002, the U.S. incarcerated its two millionth person. Ofinitiatives are directly linked to a decreased dropout
those in prison at the time, 82 percent were highrate. Phoenix schools are focusing on fixing the
school dropouts.system, not the student.
Dropouts cost our economy billions of dollars eachEvery student in the state of Arizona must now pass
year, and not just from the cost of incarceration.three tests in order to graduate high school. The
They are an undereducated work force that retardstests measure the students' knowledge against
our economic and social development. Businessesrequired state standards. Phoenix schools are
cannot depend upon a large portion of graduatingfocusing on the students who do not meet the state
students to fill much-needed jobs, which translates torequired standards. They are tackling their needs by:
lost government tax revenues. State governments• Addressing the students' skill gaps through
lose money through welfare payments,a state-funded tutoring program,
unemployment and crime prevention programs.• Providing the students with their own
Governments, from the president to the local level,tutorial guides, customized to their individual needs,
have discovered that if they do not pay forand
programs to decrease the dropout rate now, they• Using state-funded tutors, who are
will pay much more in the future.qualified to help the students learn the required skills
According to the study, the dropout rates varyin order to achieve a passing score on the
dramatically by location and racial/ethnic background.standardized tests.
The state of Arizona was cited in the study as onePhoenix schools are committed to reducing the
of the five states with the lowest graduation ratedropout rate in their schools. Though it is a lengthy
for 18 year olds. Thus, Phoenix Schools, along withand ever changing process, they know the
the Arizona State Superintendent of Publicimportance of their task. Phoenix schools know they
Instruction, Tom Horne, have made dropouthave an obligation to the students and their parents,
prevention a top priority.as well as the businesses and community to improve
There are three types of dropouts:their dropout rates. More skilled and
• Dropouts - students who stop coming todiploma-graduated students mean better-prepared
school,adults and a better Phoenix.
• Drop-In Dropouts - students who come to