Who is considered a drop out?
A drop out is a student who:
- Was enrolled some time during the current year but was not enrolled at the end of the
current regular school year; or
- Was enrolled at the end of the prior regular school year and expected to be part
of the membership (i.e., was not reported as a drop out the year before) of the
current school year but did not enroll in the current school year; and
- Has not graduated from high school or
completed a state or district approved
educational program, and
- Does not meet any of the following
exclusionary conditions:
- Transfer to another public school
district, private school, or other
state or district approved program;
- Temporary school-recognized
absentee due to suspension
or illness or
- Death.
How is the drop out rate determined?
Idaho uses a formula established by the National Center for Education Statistics for calculating the drop out rate. This statistic reflects data reported by school districts on the number of students who dropped out of each grade level 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th during a year.
It is called an event rate and it describes the proportion of students who leave (drop out of) high school each year without completing an approved high school program. It is an annual measure over a 12-month period or for Idaho public schools, the period after the first Friday in November to the first Friday of the next November. The event rate is calculated by dividing the total dropouts by the total enrollment or membership for the period by grade.
Summary of School Dropout Status
A Student Who: Is A Dropout?
Graduated................................................................................................................................................ No
Completed education program formally recognized by school authorities for students not addressing graduation or school completion requirements (i.e., certificates of completion).................................................................................................................................................... No
Was in membership only during summer following school year
(not in membership by definition)..................................................................................................... No
Left school after age 21, because district no longer is required to provide free
public education .................................................................................................................................. Yes
Died......................................................................................................................................................... No
Has not graduated, completed an approved program, or died, and educational
Status is unknown................................................................................................................................ Yes
Moved out of district or out of state and is not known to be in school...................................... Yes
Transferred to, and is in membership in:
a) Another public school in district, or public school system, in or out-of-state.......... No
b) Private elementary, secondary school, or home instructed, in or out-of-state........... No
c) Early college (baccalaureate credit) admissions before receiving a high school
Diploma.................................................................................................................................. No
d) Adult education program in a post secondary school and has not obtained a
completion credential by October 1 ................................................................................. Yes
Is in an institution that is not primarily educational (Army, Corrections, Vocational program)
and not considered a special school district.................................................................................... Yes
Is in district and not in school:
a) Temporarily absent because of illness:
i) Verified as legitimate........................................................................................... No
ii) Not verified as legitimate.................................................................................... Yes
b) Is absent long-term because of illness and not receiving educational services
(e.g. residential drug treatment center, severe physical or emotional illness)...................... No
c) Is absent because of disciplinary action: