Low or poor academic performance and lack of school engagement have been consistently found to be major predictors of leaving school early. Poor academic performance is one of the primary self-reported reasons that dropouts give for leaving school before graduation.
Descriptors of low academic achievement include:
- Grade point average
- Subject/class grades
- Achievement test scores
- Reading level
- Course failure
- Overall academic success
Weights for failing grades in the last 2 years:
- >10% = 1 point
- >15% = 2 points
- >25% = 3 points
- >35% = 4 points
- >45% = 5 points
- >55% = 6 points
The listing of external links does not constitute an endorsement from the Kentucky Department of Education.
Exemplary Programs that Address Low Academic Performance:
Programs listed below are part of the Model Programs database identified by the National Dropout Prevention Center
Academic Intervention: Extended Learning Programs
Extended Learning Programs are proactive programs designed to assist individual students who are having difficulty in one or more content areas. ES programs offer extra instructional time during and outside regular school hours and may take a variety of formats including after school or before school programs, evening sessions, Saturday learning opportunities, summer programs and/or intercessions. Descriptors for this intervention include:
- Flexible scheduling and delivery formats
- In-school and after regular school hours programs
- Mentoring and tutoring services
- Small group and one-on-one instruction
The listing of external links does not constitute an endorsement from the Kentucky Department of Education.
Exemplary Programs that Address Extended Learning Programs:
Programs listed below are part of the Model Programs database identified by the National Dropout Prevention Center
Intervention: Literacy Development
Poor reading skills affect every subject a student takes. Helping students use reading, writing, listening and viewing, speaking and presenting, and critical thinking skills to learn content, to communicate what he or she has learned, and to transfer that learning to other situations can improve total academic performance. Descriptors of this indicator are:
- Limited reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills
- Limited reading comprehension skills
- Limited English proficiency, bilingual students
The listing of external links does not constitute an endorsement from the Kentucky Department of Education.
Exemplary Programs that Address Literacy Development:
Programs listed below are part of the Model Programs database identified by the National Dropout Prevention Center