Actually, if you just offered a ‘test-out’ option after the 10th grade, where you could take a test and get a high-school diploma...I think that 25-percent of kids would sign up and opt out/test, and head on off to community college or trade school.
My brother and I have often talked about the uselessness of the 12th grade and it was more of a baby-sitting stage than a learning stage. I would have opted out and signed up for local community college classes, if you’d offered the choice.
Imagine having 50-percent of the kids gone by the start of the 12th grade.
Our son just showed up for home room (so they could get their money) his senior year. He was at junior college the rest of the time. Half of his junior year time was also at junior college. When he went off to college he didn’t do any of the freshman and a lot of the sophomore stuff.
Actually that sounds like a great idea
I left after 11 1/2 years....I had the credits and the knowledge...and surfed for the next 6 years...!!!
Over a third of my class bailed on the 12th grade one way or another. A chunk went to summer school after the 11th grade so they would meet minimum requirements and graduated early. Another big chunk went 'joint enrollment' with the local junior college and took classes there, although they could still participate in high school activities if they wanted to and were carried on the rolls. A few of us bailed completely and just enrolled in a university out of town.
And that didn't count the ones at the other end of the scale who just dropped out.
“Imagine having 50-percent of the kids gone by the start of the 12th grade.”
But then who would the remainder mock, blame, bully or cheat off of ?