Raising school dropout age is not shown to help

It was conventional to think that if the dropout age is raised, then there will be fewer dropouts and more students will continue their education. Massachusetts raised the dropout age to 18, and research has concluded that this has not lowered dropout rates. In today's economy, it seems unimaginable that anyone would be able to survive with a decent living without at least a high school diploma. So it may make sense that any student that is going to drop out at age 17 would do the same at age 18. Any reason that would lead someone to likely live a "lifetime of underachievement" must be a strong reason. It is hard to say what would actually lower the dropout rates.
Whatever the solution may be, this article stresses how much value we have in our education system today. Without formal education it is difficult, some may say impossible, to live a successful life. However, some students may have different ideas of what being "successful" means. It would be interesting to research what makes students drop out of school and what their lives consist of after dropping out.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/cepeda/10411605-452/raising-school-dropout-age-is-not-shown-to-help.html