By Allan Rivlin, Peter Hart Research
For the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Comments by Biil Gates concerning America's High Schools.
A survey sponsored by National Geographic found:
Key survey findings from the Gates Foundation Dropouts Survey:
-A strong majority of dropouts say they did not feel motivated or inspired to work hard in high school. Most are confident that they would have been able to graduate if they had put in the necessary effort, and that they would have worked harder if more had been demanded of them.
-Attendance is a strong predictor of dropping out: most dropouts say they frequently missed class during the year they dropped out.
-Most dropouts blame themselves for their failure to graduate from high school, although clearly there are aspects of the school environment that contribute to or exacerbate the problem. Fewer say the responsibility is shared with school, and even fewer believe the school is squarely to blame for them dropping out.
Top 5 Reasons Dropouts Identify as Major Factors for Leaving School:
47% - classes were not interesting
43% - missed too many days and could not catch up
42% - spent time with people who were not interested in school
38% - had too much freedom and not enough rules in my life
35% - failing in school