Preventing high school drop-outs

MOBILE, Ala. - Experts call it the best economic stimulus package there is and it doesn't take an act of Congress to get one. It's a high school diploma. That's what drawn local leaders to the Mobile Convention Center, for Mobile Graduates Sumit.

They're trying to keep kids in school. "We calculate in the Mobile area alone, drop outs represent $700 billion is loss wages over their working lifetime," said Bob Wise, President of the Alliance for Excellent Education.

Mobile's drop out rate is around 40-percent, if that isn't shocking enough, educators said students show signs of dropping out as young as 11 and 12 years old. "Right now ninth grade and with attendance law that says at 16 you are able to drop out, but see lots of indicators as early as 6th grade," added Dr. Hilder Wilson, with the Mobile Area Education Foundation, or MAEF.

MAEF said there are lots of things that can lead to a student dropping out, failing two core classes is one of them being suspended by ninth grade is another.

Since there is no one reason why students don't make it to graduation, there is no one size fix all to the problem. Experts said once you know what to watch for, you can intervene and help get the student back on track. They also said schools aren't solely responsible for educating students.

"Community needs to put all of our resources behind a student to get ready for future," said Lucretia Murphy, with the See Forever Foundation. Parents play a role too in keeping kids in school, by keeping the doors of communication open, especially with teachers. Also, active kids are more likely to earn a high school diploma.