Millions of high school and college students drop out each and every year. For many of these individuals there are resultant problems associated with dropping out, such as being unemployed and living in poverty. Those that graduate from school, especially from college, realize many benefits over the life course. This study looked at the thoughts and attitudes of school dropouts regarding whether or not having a school-based mentor would have helped them to stay enrolled in their respective programs. This study collected information from 381 school dropouts. The findings from this project suggest that having a mentor would be a valuable resource for those students that are at risk of leaving their programs before they graduate. The general findings revealed that the majority of respondents felt that having a school professional working closely with them would have helped them to remain in their classes. Mentoring programs help at-risk students to feel more engaged, less isolated, and more committed to their studies. Mentoring programs aid in improving overall academic standing and they also serve to decrease dropout rates. These findings should be of use to professionals working in any educational setting, such as teachers, program directors, and counselors.
Cite this paper
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