A student who leaves school before completing the requirements for graduation and without transferring to another educational program is considered a dropout.
A dropout can also be defined as a student who ceases to attend school and his or her residence and school status is unknown. If a student does not officially leave school by indicating a reason for transferring or dropping out, it is the school’s responsibility to account for the student within 10 days of the student’s first day of absence. The school must determine if the student is absent for a specific reason, has transferred, is receiving an approved alternate form of instruction or has dropped out of the school system. Unless the student is absent and plans to return to school, the appropriate exit code must be entered in the register. If the student’s school status is unknown after the 10-day investigation period, the student must be recorded as a dropout (15) “Absence/Status Unknown”. Students with the following exit codes are counted as dropouts.