High School Dropout Age

I think that raising the high school dropout age to 18 would be a smart decision. In order to obtain even a job paying minimum wage, most places require at least a high school diploma. If we raise the dropout age to 18 it will help ensure that more students graduate with a diploma. I also think that the decision of dropping out of high school is one that should be made when a student is of legal age to make decisions, in most states, for themselves. When a student turns 18 they are considered legal, in most states, to make decisions for themselves without parental consent. I think if they make it to this age, they should be able to make an educated decision about dropping out of high school. If the high school dropout age is raised to 18, it would make a lot more sense in conjunction with other laws that are in place regarding age. If a student is trusted to make decisions without parental consent regarding their body and other activities, that is the time when they should be allowed to consider dropping out of high school.

(2009, November 15). Raise dropout age to 18. The Boston Globe.
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2009/11/15/raise_dropout_age_to_18/