Schools and Achievement in Adolescence

Adolescents who drop out or do not finish high school have profound negative effects on their lives. When teens do not finish school, they have a significantly reduced chance of getting a good-paying job, are more likely to need services (e.g. welfare), and are more likely to have behavioral problems. In order to prevent students from dropping out of high school, there are several things schools can do.  There are several characteristics of good schools, which can help prevent dropout:

1.      High expectations for students

2.      At-risk interventions to help students meet these expectations

3.      Flexible, effective classroom instruction (e.g. combining academic instructions and experiential learning).

Good schools are those that tend to emphasize intellectual activities, allow teachers freedom in the classroom, constantly monitor themselves, and are well integrated into the community. School climate involves the social atmosphere, or the learning environment. Schools with a positive school climate are both demanding and responsive (authoritative), have high expectations for students, and have a large degree of student engagement: the extent to which students are committed to learning and mastering the material. Small schools have the benefit of increased student engagement, while large schools offer a wider variety of activities that students can participate in.

When adolescents make the transition to college, there are several factors that can affect success. About 67% of all high school graduates enroll in college. Colleges and universities offer the benefit of increasing adolescents' cognitive development. However, a third of those who enroll in college drop out in their first year.  Adolescents who do not graduate from college are referred to as the forgotten half.