High School Freshmen Dropout Rate Surpasses 10,000
The number of students abandoning their high school education before completing their first year has reached an unprecedented level, exceeding 10,000 individuals last year. This marks a significant trend in the nation’s educational landscape.
Comprehensive Data Reveals Stark Numbers
According to comprehensive educational data compiled from 1,703 general high schools nationwide, a total of 18,661 students discontinued their studies last year. Of these, first-year high school students accounted for a striking 10,045 individuals, representing 56.0% of all academic dropouts. This is the first time since data collection began in 2019 that the number of first-year students leaving school has surpassed the 10,000 mark.
Second-year students who dropped out numbered 7,346 (39.4%), while third-year students comprised 865 individuals (4.6%).
Concentration of Dropouts in Key Areas
The phenomenon of students leaving school early is also evident in areas known for their strong emphasis on education within Seoul. In the Gangnam district, the neighborhood of Dogok 2-dong saw the highest number of academic dropouts, with 46 students from Jungdae High School. Other schools in the Gangnam district also reported notable figures, including Daechi High School with 32 dropouts, Sookmyung Girls’ High School with 21, Whimoon High School with 21, and Kyunggi High School with 21.
Shifting Academic Policies Suspected as a Catalyst
Educational experts are attributing this surge in first-year dropouts to the implementation of the new internal grading system, which was first applied to first-year students last year. This system, which uses a 5-grade scale for internal assessments, is believed to be pushing students to concentrate more intensely on their college entrance examinations.
Im Sung-ho, CEO of Jongro Academy, explained, “While the shift from a 9-grade to a 5-grade internal assessment system may have eased the pressure of grade distinctions, the perception that failing to achieve the top grade makes admission to desirable universities difficult appears to be a significant factor.”
