During the 2009-2010 school year, the dropout number at West has been on the rise. There have been 30 dropouts so far this year, and with 960 students currently enrolled at West, as opposed to the 1134 from the 2008-2009 school year, the staff is looking for as many ways to save dropouts as they can.

    According to Guidance Counselor Kellene Bock, the problem of the dropout rate can be accredited to many different sources.

    “The economy always plays a part in it,” Bock said. “Many kids and families think that money coming in [to the home] is more important so education gets pushed to the back seat and students put jobs as a first priority. Also, I think we [adults] are raising a generation of children who don’t see the necessity of working for something that is important, so if it’s hard, they just quit and go to the option of getting a G.E.D.”

    According to Data Manager Kim Davis the problem could be attributed to attendance issues as well.

    “I think that some kids miss so many days that they feel like they can’t make them up,” Davis said. “The attendance policy we have [at West] makes a lot of students feel like there is no way to get caught up with all of their work and missed time.”

    Davis also highlights the many alternative routes West has offered potential dropouts like the after-school time makeup program S.A.V.E. or Monticello Alternative School.

    And although each potential dropout’s situation is different, West’s administrative and guidance staff are willing to work with each student to keep them in school.

    “We try to look out for each individual student and try to find a way to save them,” Assistant Principal Ellyn Gaither said. “Then we try to develop a plan to help them get a high school diploma.”

    Even though many different causes have been diagnosed by various West administrators and guidance counselors, sometimes one must hear it straight from the source.

Former West student Alisha McCreary dropped out this past year due to a high number of missed school days.

    “I chose to drop out because I missed a lot of days when I went to the doctor for heart problems I had,” McCreary said. “I tried to get home-schooled but that didn’t work out and there was no way for me to make it all up. So really, I had no choice and saw no point in staying if I couldn’t make up my time.”

    McCreary also says that she does plan on re-enrolling at West in the upcoming school year, but provides definite advice to any student considering quitting school.

    “I think that students should just look at all the consequences of dropping out first,” McCreary said. “Even if I did not pass to the next grade, staying at West would have been good for me because I would still gain knowledge. Students should just realize that it’s not that bad and it really is the best choice to stay in school.”

    However despite any efforts made by West, Bock does not foresee the dropout number decreasing to any degree. 

    “Right now, I anticipate the number going up,” Bock said. “Eventually it will level out, but with the requirements for a diploma becoming more difficult and the economy not getting any better, I don’t see the number changing any time soon.”