There are many reasons why a student may not finish high school, but it is important to note that there are alternative options to getting a high school credential. My middle daughter is one of these – she did not finish school due to circumstances beyond her control, but she was old enough to make some choices of her own and finished her education, at the age of 17, by taking the GED and passing it. I am proud to say she is in her second year at PSC and doing very well. By NOT finishing high school, she actually got a one year head start on her college education.

Other students may lack the maturity or interest to finish. I’d be more curious to track what happened to those students and to know if they returned to take GED or adult high school classes and finished their educations. Another point is that post high school education is not for all people, just as college is not for all people. Some folks go directly to work upon graduation from high school. Others may go to college or technical school later in life, and that’s OK too.