Absenteeism

Absenteeism is one of the primary indicators of a student at-risk of dropping out. At George Washington Preparatory High School, located in south-central Los Angeles, both parents and students are required to sign a contract. Parents must attend workshops on how to help their children and must visit the schools at designated times. Teachers must make daily calls to the homes of absentees. Absenteeism was less than 10 percent in the 1985-86 school year, and 70 percent of the students now go on to college. (U.S. Department of Education 1993)

References
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. The Condition of Education, 1993. Washington, DC: USDOE, 1993. Available here.