rareay of Colorado, CO "The ONLY reliable way to measure the dropout rate is to count those who entered 9th grade and those who exited 12th grade."

I suppose it comes down to how you define 'dropout'. From where I'm standing, a 'dropout' is someone who ceases formal education. Guess from where you're standing, a 'dropout' is anyone who does not put in a full 4 years at a public school.

I think your definition is rather silly, since there are so dang many alternatives to public school out there. Isn't it a bit goofy to take someone who enters college with a full academic scholarship based on high ACT scores, and call them a dropout?report abuse

The Reader of Central Maine, ME Michael. Nice thought, but I don't know if it's that simple. Kids can move away, transfer, etc. in 4 years. Vice versa, new kids come into the class.

No matter the statistics, it's a problem that needs to be reduced. Like Mr. Haley states in the piece, many folks could get away without a high school degree yeras ago. Those days are gone. Even worse, the days of getting a solid job without a college/next level education are becoming few and far between.report abuse

reader of Boston, MA By the way, the motion blur of this photo is what your HDTV TV will look like if it it does not have 120mgz technologyreport abuse

Michael Denis of formerly of Waterville, ME Ruth and TheCynic, I believe that one reason Messalonskee's rate is so low (other than the fact that it IS a good school) is that the numbers have been cooked. The dropout rate dropped very dramatically a few years ago when the current assistant superintendent moved into her new job from the high school. Could it be that Carrabec and Madison are counting differently? "Figures lie and liars figure."

Students joining the military, going to adult education, taking home courses, all were omitted from the dropout rate. In addition, I believe those who were "lost" were assumed to be furthering their education somewhere...

The ONLY reliable way to measure the dropout rate is to count those who entered 9th grade and those who exited 12th grade.

There ARE other ways to further one's education (thank goodness), but the dropout rate shouldn't be fudged to make the school system "look good."report abuse