There’s a lot of hand-wringing going on about the high school drop-out rate these days, but there’s a silver lining that very few people mention.
You see, not everyone who drops out of high school is giving up on education. In fact, some of the brightest and most innovative students are choosing to “smart out” of high school in order to start college early. In most states, they are counted among the traditional drop-outs, so it’s hard to know how many we’re talking about here. But the reality is that an increasing number of free-thinking high school students are taking a look around and saying, “Hmm. I can do better elsewhere.”
We should be celebrating this. After all, we need students to be able to make smart decisions about where and how they can enhance their own learning experience. For plenty of motivated students, high school just doesn’t provide the educational and/or social setting that is most conducive to learning–and they’re doing something about it.
Now, there are certainly ways to take more advanced courses while staying in high school. AP, IB, and dual enrollment programs allow students to remain enrolled in their high school while taking courses that may lead to college credits. These are great choices for students who enjoy the high school setting and feel satisfied that they are being challenged academically. But what about the students who’ve had their fill of hallway drama and spirit assemblies and feel fully ready to blast forward? The best option may be to call it quits.
The most successful smart outs are those who start with a solid plan. Many students are deciding to take a couple of community college courses at 15 and, if they show they are able to handle the material and the setting, they go on to earn their GED certification at 16, usually during the summer after their sophomore year. (Some states don’t allow students to do it at this age–check with the GED folks in your state to get the details.) It generally takes two or three consecutive weekends for the tests and may require a few weeks of prep or a specific pre-test class as well. Then, rather than start their junior year of high school, they continue on with their freshman year of community college courses in the fall. (No SAT or ACT required!)
The most important part of a good smart-out plan is getting very clear guidelines from a community college admissions counselor who works with those under 18. Those who fail to earn an associate’s degree by 18 or build bullet-proof transcripts that get accepted at a four-year university without a hitch tend to be those who:
1) run out of money or other support for this path
2) take courses without regard to how they fit into a degree program
3) lose momentum because they take too few classes to see any progress
The key to successfully smarting out is to take a full load from Day One. Those who go to community college part-time after leaving high school are least likely to become engaged in their new learning environment. Stick with the intro-level liberal arts courses if the goal is to get an associate’s degree or fulfill basic requirements to transfer to a four-year university.
Of course, there’s some room to play, too! Part of the benefit of smarting out is having a chance to take courses that are not offered in high school.
There’s rigor–and then there’s rapture. When all is said and done, a student’s best bet is to head toward the academic offerings that are the most irresistibly magnetic. Smarting out gives students more freedom to discover their talents and interests, and this is the greatest advantage of all.
Smarting out is not a ticket to slide. Quite the contrary–it’s for those who really want to dig in and compete in a more adult and advanced setting. Students need to be able to do well in community college courses. That is, they must be able to show up, do the work, be prepared for tests AND get good grades. Very few four-year universities will accept transfer students who have earned a C average or below in community college. Transfer student motto: No Cs in CC!
Of course, plenty of homeschooled or unschooled students are smarting out without having the ego-deflating “drop-out” label hung around their necks. There’s nothing new about smarting out–students have been doing it for years, but there’s greater acceptance of the early-college model and more recognition for those who transfer to a four-year university at 18 as a junior. Hooray! (There’s a lot more about this in my book.)
What matters most: strong parental support, guidance from a college counselor, and a student’s flaming enthusiasm for learning.
Smarting out is the kind of dropping out we should encourage.
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@ Maya
An intriguing post. What percentage of high school students have what it takes to “smart out” of high school? I’m curious. I know in my own building of a number of students who may benefit from this approach. I don’t want to advise my way out of a job but I do want what is best for my students.
Hi Charlie,
It’s nearly impossible to get accurate numbers on this, as you can imagine, but in addition to the traditional fast-trackers who are choosing
the AP/IB or dual enrollment route are plenty of kids who are bright but just not engaged in school either due to the social setting or the education
offerings. I think we probably lose a lot of students who would thrive if they were given a chance to smart out–they don’t like the “drop out” label so forge ahead, but they lose interest in higher education because they’re afraid it will be a continuation of a dissatisfying experience. If only they had a chance to skip the two years of the doldrums and dive into the learning they love, they’d be on fire and thrilled about blasting ahead rather than feeling that they’re just not cut out for college.
Of course, there are other ways to smart out–some early birds take their SATs at 15 and apply through special early-entrance programs at state or private universities. But I’m not necessarily promoting the idea of sending 16 year olds to live on campus in a dorm setting–though this can work beautifully for some students. Instead, I’m saying that replacing the last couple of years of high school with community college or a combination of exhilarating learning options can really catapult some kids forward–and it’s a crying shame that more students aren’t given that option (and the support to pursue it).
I really like the smart out idea but in the current economic times some parents and kids probably can`t afford to jump to the CC and pay for education , are there any programs that help out the lower income families that have potential kids and want to send them to CC on a small budget?
Hi Casey,
Well, any parent who wants their kid to go to college will have to bite the bullet eventually, but there are likely to be MORE funds available to
smart outs (or at least programs that cover part of the costs) than for regular new CC students who are 18. It depends on the state and the particular
college, but don’t discount CC as an option until you’ve checked out the possibilities for financial assistance.
In addition, if you qualify for financial aid, it may go farther at a CC than at a state or private university AND there are some great scholarships available for CC students who want to study abroad, especially for minorities. (In my book, I explain how going abroad as a community college student can save thousands while getting an almost identical experience as you’d pay for a state or private university study abroad program.)
If there are no family funds available and you do not qualify for financial aid, an apprenticeship option can be a great boost. It doesn’t have to be through a program–there are plenty of students who find mentors who simply like to share their knowledge and would like to have someone around to help with tasks
without paying them. As long as nobody is getting taken advantage of (unwillingly, at least!) this is a great way to get experience in an area of interest and
develop skills that can help land a job. Some students with tight budgets are choosing to do an apprenticeship to enable them to get the skills they need to get a part-time job later that will help them pay for college courses.
And check with the community college about mentorship programs. There are some that are offered to students in need and come with college credits at reduced costs!