dropouts
Left before graduating
Dropouts are people who leave school, a program, or an activity before completing it.
The term most often refers to those who quit high school or college without graduating: High school dropouts face limited job prospects.
It extends to anyone who withdraws from conventional society or mainstream expectations, carrying connotations of failure or nonconformity depending on context.
In technical contexts, a dropout can also mean a brief loss of signal or data.
Unauthorized absence from school
- absenteeismHabitual failure to attend
- at-riskSubject to potential harm
- GEDAlternative diploma certification
- expulsionForced permanent removal
retention · remediation · underachiever · intervention · disengagement · attrition · re-enrollment · counseling
Relegation to powerless periphery
- unemploymentBeing without paid work
- povertySevere lack of resources
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- underclassLowest socioeconomic group
homelessness · disenfranchisement · stigma · alienation · anomie · precarity · vulnerability · welfare
Act of taking away
- departureAct of going away
- exitWay to leave
- abandonmentAct of leaving permanently
- desertionUnlawful abandonment of duty
discontinuance · leave-taking · defection · resignation · termination · cessation · disengagement · relinquishment
Gradual reduction through loss
- longitudinalAlong the longer dimension
- follow-upSubsequent action on something
State of being severed
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
- glitchMinor system fault
- cutoutShape removed from material
- failureLack of success
malfunction · brownout · outage · buffering
truancy
Unauthorized absence from school
- absenteeismHabitual failure to attend
- at-riskSubject to potential harm
- GEDAlternative diploma certification
expulsion · retention · remediation · underachiever · intervention · disengagement · attrition · re-enrollment · counseling · diploma
marginalization
Relegation to powerless periphery
- unemploymentBeing without paid work
- povertySevere lack of resources
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
underclass · homelessness · disenfranchisement · stigma · alienation · anomie · precarity · vulnerability · welfare · delinquency
withdrawal
Act of taking away
- departureAct of going away
- exitWay to leave
- abandonmentAct of leaving permanently
desertion · discontinuance · leave-taking · defection · resignation · termination · cessation · disengagement · relinquishment · attrition
attrition
Gradual reduction through loss
- longitudinalAlong the longer dimension
- follow-upSubsequent action on something
disconnection
State of being severed
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
- glitchMinor system fault
- cutoutShape removed from material
failure · malfunction · brownout · outage · buffering
- school problemsovercrowding, school funding, budget cuts, bullying, poor attendance
- school lifeschool, teacher, classroom, homework, grades
- schoolingelementary school, school, middle school, high school, primary schools
- outsidersoutsider, outcasts, pariah, misfit, outlaw
- bike partsframe, top tube, saddle, pedal, chain
- leaversquitters, graduates, retirees, resigners, exiters
dropoutsgraduates
Degree recipients
completers · alumni · valedictorians · honor students · scholars
dropoutsfinishers
Those who conclude tasks
completers · achievers · strivers · diehards · lifers
dropoutsinsiders
Those with special access
participants · joiners · conformists · contributors · members