The document discusses the high school dropout epidemic in the United States. It notes that 70% of dropouts felt they could have graduated and 88% had passing grades, indicating bad grades do not fully explain why students drop out. Many dropouts said classes were uninteresting and they felt unprepared for 21st century careers. The document calls on teachers to make learning more engaging by connecting it to students' interests and future careers to help remedy the problems of disengagement and lack of preparation. It also emphasizes the need for early warning systems, increased parent involvement, and college/career readiness programs to address the dropout issue.

1. The Silent Epidemic
The Status of Graduation in America
By: Amber Bowles

2.  The percentage of  The major reason
students that are students said they
dropping out of dropped out was
high school in our because classes
nation is alarming. weren’t interesting.
This has been
named “The Silent
Epidemic”.

3.  In a survey done of high school drop outs,
several things became clear.
 70% of dropouts said they felt confident that
they could have graduated.
 88% of high school drop outs said they had
passing grades.
 Contrary to popular belief, bad grades do
NOT explain this national epidemic.

4. Attendance is a key indicator of dropout rate.
Teachers need to be aware and proactive. If a
student is missing class, call parents, ask why!

5. As teachers, we are the ones
who most affect the students
choice in graduating.

6.  IF students are  We can remedy both
dropping out problems with one
because school isn’t solution.
“interesting”, then  We need to create
this NEEDS to schools that keep
change. students engaged in
 According to another learning subjects that
study, students are interests them, while
unprepared for 21st preparing them for
century work. their future in the
21st century.

7.  Early warning sign  Accurate data systems
systems that calculates
 Increase parent attendance.
involvement.  Early college programs
 College/Career
readiness. By focusing
on college and career
readiness, students
feel that school is
essential to their
future.
WE can stop this
epidemic.

8.  When speaking to high  Real world learning;
school dropouts in the classes need to be more
silent epidemic survey, relevant and more
they said these things interesting.
would be vital to  Better communication with
increasing graduation the parents in keeping
rates: students in school.
 Ensure students attend
 Parents need to be more class; they felt that
involved. creating a safer
environment could help
 More one-on-one time achieve this.
with the teacher.  Teachers should be more
involved in motivating
students!

9.  Make sure your students are coming to class
regularly.
 Involve your parents!
 Create a more relevant/interesting classroom.
 Involve 21st century skills; make sure your
students can walk confidently into the next step
of life after graduating with these essential skills.
 Make your classroom a safe haven.
 Dig deeper, students want more one-on-one
involvement; they feel a need for a personal
connection with you!

10. Let’s make this happen.
Students want to succeed in some sense, they just don’t understand that
graduation is vital to success until they get out into the real world.