Is Dropping Out of High School Bad?
Yes, dropping out of high school and not having a diploma will hurt you. For instance, it is doubtful that you will be able to get a job without a high school diploma or GED certificate. This is the case because most businesses require proof that you have completed high school in order to work for them. Without proof of this type, there are few options for employment available to people who do not have diplomas. Most employers likely won’t hire these individuals because they do not have the proper credentials needed for the position they are applying for. However, some companies still consider applicants who don’t have their high school diplomas if they provide proof that they later passed the General Education Development Test (GED).
Another way that dropping out of high school can be bad is that you do not have a diploma to show for your efforts. In other words, without a diploma, you will not have something tangible as proof that you worked through high school and completed all the requirements needed in order to graduate from high school. This may mean starting from scratch again if you later decide to go back and attempt to get your diploma once more.
Further, some colleges or universities require potential applicants to have a high school diploma or a GED certificate to apply. If this requirement isn’t met, individuals won’t be able to apply because they must prove they have graduated from high school before being considered for enrollment into the college or university they wish to attend.
So, as is seen, dropping out of high school can be bad because it will reduce your chance for future employment and limit your options when searching for a job. It may also mean starting over if you ever choose to return and obtain a diploma or GED certificate. Additionally, there may be some colleges or universities that won’t consider applicants who don’t have their high school diplomas, so not having one could affect your ability to gain admittance into those institutions.
What Are the Disadvantages of Dropping Out of High School?
One of the disadvantages that come with dropping out of high school is that you will lose your chance for future employment opportunities. Additionally, it may mean having to start over again if you ever decide to return and complete your education.
It is also harder to find work without a high school diploma because most employers only consider individuals who can provide their credentials upon application. If this requirement is not met, individuals may be unable to get jobs simply because they cannot prove they have completed all the requirements through graduation to receive their diplomas.
Another potential problem may occur when colleges or universities don’t accept applicants who haven’t graduated from high school due to failing to meet the required admissions criteria set forth by these organizations. They often require a high school diploma or GED certificate before considering a student for admittance.
Some of the dropping out of high school consequences are that you will limit your future opportunities and may not be able to find employment without a diploma. Additionally, there can be problems with getting into colleges or universities if one doesn’t have a diploma. It is often required to prove one has completed all the requirements needed to graduate from high school.
Is Dropping Out of High School Illegal?
Though some people believe that dropping out of high school is illegal, there are no laws in place that perpetually state this action is unlawful or against the law. However, reasons why dropping out of high school may be perceived to be illegal include lack of ability to get future employment, inability to work later on due to not having a diploma for proof of graduation, etc.
However, there is one exception. Some states (such as New Jersey) require students to attend at least until they turn 16 before they can switch over and go into adult education classes because it increases their chances of getting better-paying jobs when they get older. Though these requirements aren’t put in place by the federal government, individual states have taken it upon themselves to make their own laws that require students to stay in school until they are at least 16 years of age. However, one cannot be charged with a violation of the law unless they refuse to attend high school past this requirement, and government officials can choose whether or not to pursue legal action against someone who does.
Also, it should be noted that there is no federal mandate which requires each student to complete high school before graduation. The only federal authority that gets involved with these kinds of issues sees its main purpose as providing more funding for secondary education programs so students will be better prepared for life after getting out of school.
Though dropping out of high school is not illegal, there are consequences for not completing all the requirements needed in order to graduate from secondary education. For example, many businesses won’t hire someone who doesn’t have a high school diploma indicating completion of such programs, and college admissions committees may take into consideration that one has dropped out when considering them as an applicant.
However, dropping out of high school is illegal (in most cases) when students choose not to attend past May and don’t receive permission through a court-ordered petition. Of course, in some state’s younger students (those under 16 years old) can legally drop out but must continue attending classes until they are 16 years of age.
Thus, it should be noted that dropping out during the course of a secondary education setting is not in itself unlawful, but there can be legal repercussions in some situations if one does choose to drop out before they reach the necessary requirements needed for graduating from high school.
What Age Do Most Students Drop Out of High School?
Students may choose to drop out of high school at any point during their stay in the educational setting. However, they will only be able to legally do so if they will turn 18 years old before May, as this is when most states require students to graduate from secondary education. Following this date, those who have yet graduated from high school can no longer drop out and must remain enrolled in classes until they reach the required level of education set forth by law.
However, it should be noted that there are some instances where students can still drop out even after May and receive special permission to do so. If a student is very close (or possibly over) eighteen, they may petition for a court order allowing them to leave school early. Of course, this will only be granted if the court thinks it’s best for that student to do so.
How to Drop Out of High School
Dropping out of high school isn’t very hard to do. One can simply not show up at any point during the day and just stop coming. However, this is usually considered illegal unless one has permission from a court or their guardian to agree that it’s okay to leave school early.
However, even then, there are some who still choose to drop out without having this special permission and don’t end up in legal trouble as long as they aren’t within reachable distance of anyone who can apprehend them (such as teachers), and they will be eighteen soon enough (or already past the age of 18).
Though many might think that dropping out before finishing all the necessary courses needed for graduation will make life harder when looking for potential jobs, they will soon discover that getting an education is mandatory for most jobs (and nearly all jobs worth having). Thus, it should be noted that landing a job without proper documentation of completion isn’t really something that’s likely to happen.
Those who choose to drop out will also find their other options severely limited as well. For example, colleges and other educational entities would not accept them unless they can prove they completed high school education by other means such as taking the appropriate exams or obtaining proof of other accomplishments while in school.
The Average Income for High School Graduates
The average income for high school graduates is nearly ten times that of high school dropouts. Thus, it can be concluded that no matter the few options one might have for finding proper work, dropping out is often a bad decision in more ways than one.
High School Dropouts Vs. Graduates
High school graduates are more likely to receive higher wages than those who didn’t complete high school. Of course, this is understandable as high school dropouts often have very limited knowledge of many things and thus will find it nearly impossible to compete against their highly knowledgeable peers in the workforce. However, there are exceptions to this generalization as some jobs don’t require any kind of formal education for employment.
Those who do choose not to pursue an education past secondary schooling will usually end up stuck working minimum wage jobs that can barely support even themselves, let alone another person (much less a family), which is why it’s always best to finish schooling despite what anyone might tell you. With so many people fighting for the same jobs, life has become overly competitive that having proper education is becoming an ever-increasing necessity.
Those who have dropped out of high school often use this as a reason not to pursue higher learning later on in life, but it’s quite easy to obtain special permission to leave high school early if one truly desires. Of course, most students are too young at this time to understand what they truly want out of their lives anyway, which is why their parents and other wiser persons usually advise them.
However, some people will still drop out regardless of how many negative effects might occur because they believe these consequences won’t befall them personally or that it won’t really hurt them overall. They don’t understand that dropping out can cause problems with marriage, jobs, child custody, financial aid, disability status, and other things that aren’t immediately noticeable at first.
High School Dropout Rates by Income Level
People with lower incomes are more likely to drop out of high school than people who come from wealthier backgrounds. Of course, this isn’t always the case since there are plenty of wealthy people (or rather people with rich parents) who choose to drop out anyway for various reasons, even though it can significantly limit their future prospects.
Those born poor often see dropping out as an easy way to escape the endless cycle of poverty that has consumed them and made them feel like they will never accomplish anything beyond having a low-paying fast-food job or other menial tasks that leaves them feeling unfulfilled.
This is also true for those who end up in jail after committing crimes because many criminals dropped out before graduating high school, which is why they never felt connected with society in the first place. They don’t want to work within the rules of society because they never learned how to do so in school and thus feel like they have no future in this world.
The best way to avoid poverty is usually through proper education, but it’s hard for many people to see that with all their problems present right before them due to poor decision-making or unfortunate circumstances. However, most people gradually learn this with age which is why high school dropouts become more common among older populations.
People who don’t finish school are at a greater risk for getting into trouble with the law than those who complete education even if dropping out was their own choice rather than something forced upon them by others since they feel like they’re left with nothing if they don’t have an education.
Also, people who do not graduate from high school are far more likely to become entangled in the criminal justice system than those who finish their secondary studies. This is simply because most minimum wage jobs do not require a diploma, and since many dropouts will lack marketable job skills, this leaves them feeling like society owes them something for their past contributions.