If attending high school is not an option, I encourage you to obtain your GED. It may be in your best interest to consult an education law attorney. We are glad to assist you. Tim Akpinar agrees with this answer. A: Don't drop out. At 18, you probably could. Your school should be able to advise you on this. But don't drop out. Speak to your guidance counselor, or if you don't have one, ask the school to set you up with someone to give you guidance and support there.
If things are that bad at the school, look into a GED equivalency program. Dropping out will only close doors on job options and career opportunities, which are difficult enough in themselves without advanced education or training past high school.
Find a school counselor to help you make a good decision. If you figured out how to post a question here, you clearly have the smarts to finish a school program or equivalency program! According to Pew Research Center , America's high school dropout rate hit a record low in Only six percent of people between the ages of 18 and 24 had dropped out.
That resulted in a high school graduation rate of However, high school dropout rates, by state, can vary quite a bit. So high school dropout rates are not increasing. It seems that fewer and fewer high school students are deciding to drop out.
And the number of schools that are considered "dropout factories" is also decreasing. In fact, according to America's Promise Alliance , large high schools with graduation rates of 67 percent or below declined in number by about 40 percent from to Every dropout has his or her own reasons for leaving school. But those reasons often stem from experiences that are common to many other students.
Other factors that are often at play include:. Some students also feel discouraged or intimidated by the culture of standardized testing and the pressure to become college- and career-ready. Of course, even some post-secondary students consider dropping out of college , sometimes for similar reasons as those above. What's clear is that almost nobody just suddenly decides to become a dropout. For many people who leave school, dropping out is the final result of feeling hopeless or disengaged over a long period of time.
That's why a lot of school districts have dropout prevention programs aimed at helping teachers and administrators discover and assist students who are at the greatest risk of leaving school. They consider factors such as:. In fact, some of the most successful people in the world never graduated from high school. And for every famous dropout, many other dropouts exist who quietly lead prosperous and fulfilling lives. Some of the most well-known high school dropouts include:.
Contrary to what some people mistakenly believe, Microsoft's most famous cofounder did graduate from high school. However, Bill Gates is not a college graduate. He dropped out of Harvard. But he has received many special honors throughout the years. As a result, Bill Gates does have a college degree.
In fact, he has several honorary doctorate degrees from various universities around the world, including Harvard. The bottom line is that you don't need your high school diploma to make it in life, but your path could be a lot more challenging if you don't have it.
With a clear vision of what you want, almost anything is possible. But it generally takes a lot of drive, courage, skill, effort, and luck in order to attain such high levels of success. And not every high school dropout is so fortunate. The consequences of dropping out of high school are that you will be more likely to become a prison inmate or the victim of a crime. Simply put, a lot of bad stuff potentially happens if you drop out. Those consequences aren't guaranteed by any means. But you'll be at greater risk of experiencing them.
Consider these facts:. So if you want to minimize your risk of experiencing negative consequences, then it is important to have a high school diploma or an equivalent credential like a GED. Few people would ever recommend making this decision. And that includes people who have already dropped out.
That says a lot. But you don't need a lecture. You have your own reasons for considering this path. And maybe you've already pursued it and just need some extra guidance to help you move forward from where you are right now.
So how do you drop out of high school without messing up your future? Great question. No single formula exists that will work for everyone. However, a high school dropout can be successful by taking some of the seven actions below.
These steps could go a long way toward keeping you out of trouble while steering you closer to success. Every state in America has mandatory schooling.
It is against the law for a child not to go to school. If you don't attend a public, private, or parochial school, you must be homeschooled in accordance with your state's laws. So, at what age can you drop out of school without parental consent? Depending on the particular state, all students are legally required to stay in school until reaching the age of 16, 17, 18, or 19 if they don't graduate first.
That means you cannot drop out of middle school. It also means that it's essential to know the legal age to drop out of school in your state. According to the National Center for Education Statistics , as of Keep in mind that the rules for dropping out aren't always as straightforward as reaching a certain age. For example, you can drop out of school at 16 in New York, but only if the board of education for your school district doesn't have additional requirements.
In some districts, you may be required to stay in school until the last day of the academic year in which you become the legal age to drop out. Despite these requirements, most states will allow students to drop out before reaching the legal age as long as they have their parents' consent.
However, some states also require approval from school officials, which can be difficult to attain. And in a few states, you might have to pass a GED exam or other high school equivalency test. Simply put, you can drop out of high school if you meet the requirements of both your state and school district. What are the consequences of dropping out before you reach the legal age?
If you don't have state authorization to stop attending school, you might be cited for truancy. And that can lead to costly legal problems for you as well as your parents. Punishment might include monetary fines, community service, or the suspension of your driver's license. In some cases, you might even need permission in order to work. It always helps to see where you're trying to go. So put it on paper. That way, you'll be less likely to make a decision that slams the door on one or more of your dreams.
And you'll have a better idea of where to focus your attention and which challenges are truly worth taking on. For example, start visualizing the goals that you want to achieve in each area of your life. Or at least brainstorm several possibilities that make you feel good when you think about them. Where do you want to live? What kind of job will you enjoy?
Will you have kids? If so, how many? Will you travel? How much will you need to earn in order to have the kind of lifestyle you want? The more specific you make your goals, the better. They'll begin to create a roadmap to your future. Then you can research exactly what you'll need to do to get there. For some goals, dropping out of high school might not matter so much.
But for most goals, you may discover that you'll need to take some extra actions that high school graduates usually don't need to take. And that's OK. It's just better to know what those challenges might be up front. This step plays a major part in deciding what to do after dropping out of high school. After writing down your goals, take a lot of time to research what you'll need and how you might make them happen.
For example, will you need a college degree or a specific kind of vocational credential in order to qualify for the career you want? If so, you may need to find schools and special programs that assist high school dropouts with learning the college- and career-readiness skills that can lead to success. Or maybe what you need, for now, is a wider variety of experiences and a broader perspective.
In that case, it might be worth looking into travel opportunities. Even a short weekend adventure can sometimes be enough to provide a beneficial spark of inspiration or insight. And don't overlook volunteering as a way to develop skills and connections that may lead to surprising and positive opportunities. The point is to keep your eyes open for any people or resources that can assist you in building the life you envision.
You might just discover that most people want you to succeed. So don't shy away from asking for help. Just be ready to put in the necessary effort when that help arrives. One other possibility to consider is just taking a temporary break from high school instead of permanently quitting. As long as you are still of legal school age, you can go back to high school after dropping out for a year. Most states have a maximum age limit for providing free public education.
Depending on the state, that age is anywhere from 17 to 26, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. So if you are still younger than the age limit, you can return to school. Plus, many school districts offer alternative or "second chance" programs that provide extra support to former dropouts. Maybe you dislike having to physically show up at the same school every day and follow a rigid schedule.
Ask about other options first. See your guidance counselor or a teacher that you trust and tell them your situation. There may be a solution to your complaint that does not involve dropping out: If you are experiencing a lack of intellectual stimulation, you may be able to take more challenging classes.
You may even be able to dual-enroll and complete an Associate's Degree and your high school diploma at the same time. If you are feeling unprepared and behind, you might have to work really hard to catch up if you are behind. The good news is that there are likely educators at your school that will work with you and help you, particularly if they know that you are considering dropping out. Ask about credit recovery, offer classroom labor like cleaning or organizing in exchange for tutoring, and find out what work can be made up.
If you have other responsibilities, talk to your guidance counselor about them. You may be able to do a work program that earns both money and school credit. Your counselor may also know of financial resources that could help you financially while keeping you in school.
Do not drop out for someone else. If someone else—a parent, a friend, or a significant other—is pressuring you to drop out, tell them to stop. This is a decision that only you can make. This decision could have a long-ranging impact on your life, so you need to feel confident in your convictions. Part 2. Form a reasonable argument. You will have to explain your decision many times, to many different people.
Before you have those conversations, be sure that you can make a reasoned, clear argument for taking the path that you are taking. I am not challenged, interested, or inspired by the curriculum or the educators. I am choosing to drop out of high school so that I can pursue higher education on my own and find an educational institution that fits my academic goals. To make up the work and education I missed by being absent for so many days, I would have to attend school for another year. My grades are so low that I may not be eligible for a diploma even if I do all of the work I am supposed to do.
I will be much better off if I can just leave, get my GED, and start working. While this decision may not make sense to you, I know the needs of myself and my family, and having the money to feed my family and myself is more important than learning about academic things that may never affect my life.
Ask about alternative high schools. Many school districts offer an alternative or independent high school. This is often a school with more flexible times and a different mindset.
The students who attend alternative high schools can be more mature and often work. If much of your complaint about high school is the environment and the students, an alternative high school may be a better fit for you. Alternative high schools will sometimes allow you to accelerate your courses and finish early. Make a plan for your future. Before you set the dropping out plan in motion, you should know what you are going to do instead of high school.
You most likely will try to get a GED or high school equivalency. If you are planning to go to work full time, be sure you have a job lined up first. Find out how many hours you will be able to work and ask about benefits like health and dental insurance.
Anticipate others' arguments. Try to preview the conversations before they happen and come up with responses to arguments and questions that will likely be asked.
Talk to your guardians. Even if you are 18 and can legally make your own decision, it is considerate to tell the people who have been responsible for you up to this point what decision you are making preferably before you make it official. Tell them your reasons, but don't expect them to necessarily agree right away. It may take some time for the idea to sink in, and they may never think it is a good idea.
But if you are clear and firm, they will likely respect your decision. Have a back-up plan in place. The worst-case scenario is that your guardians may kick you out of the house if you drop out.
If you think this may happen, have somewhere to go at least temporarily. Tell your guidance counselor. Part 3. Determine the legal age for leaving school. Every state is a little different, so make sure you know at what age you're legally allowed to quit school.
Some states allow students to drop out at 16, while others will not allow you to make that decision until you're Though you can drop out with a legal guardian's consent if you're younger than the established age in some states, other states will not allow you to drop out before the age of 18, even with your guardian's consent. Make sure you know this information before dropping out.
Don't just stop going to school. Even though you're considered a drop-out if you just stop going to school altogether, the action of doing so without consulting the proper legal channels can have legal ramifications for you and your legal guardians [5] X Research source.
Simply no longer attending school is referred to as truancy in legal terms. Becoming truant may stand in your way of receiving a high school equivalency. Understand the testing requirements for drop-outs in your state. In some states, you might be allowed to legally leave school early if your legal guardians agree and if you pass a High School equivalency test or get a GED.
Make sure to research if your state adopts this policy. Talk to your guidance counselor or administrative advisor about the required paperwork. Each state and school district has different forms that you and your parents need to fill out.
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