American Indian High School Student Persistence and School Leaving: A Case Study of American Indian Student School Experiences

Abstract

One method by which student success or failure is measured is whether or not students graduate or dropout. The current educational policy, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, aims to close the achievement gap among different ethnic groups. Despite these goals, American Indian students have the highest dropout rate and lowest graduation rate in the country. For well over a century, federal educational policy has failed to meet the educational needs of American Indian students. This research project shows the need for perspectives to change in terms of "dropping out" and "graduating" in order to address and improve the success rates for Native American students in K-12 public schools. This thesis focuses on urban Native American student schooling experiences, calling for a need to avoid labeling students and for schools to place a greater emphasis on building positive interpersonal relationships with students and families.