On the national level, more than 1.2 million students a year leave high school without a diploma - or about one-third of students overall, according to data provided by America's Promise. The dropouts from the class of 2008 represent more than $319 billion in lost wages, taxes and productivity for their life spans, according to the Alliance for Excellent Education, which advocates for at-risk middle- and high-school students.
Grasmick pointed to the primary indicators of problems by the end of sixth grade: poor attendance and behavior, and failing math and English. Students showing those signs have a 10 percent chance of graduating on time and a 20 percent chance of graduating a year later, she said - and those who repeat middle school are 11 times more likely to drop out.
Students in need "wave their hands early," said Robert Balfanz, director of the Everyone Graduates Center at the Johns Hopkins University. He described several reforms that must take place at every level to address them, such as teaching children early on that learning is joyful, and considering the academic and social needs of students as they transition from one level to another. Balfanz also suggested interviewing students who are chronically absent, as most who drop out often fit that pattern.
