10.Depression: Sadly, the final three reasons on this list are all health-related-- areas within our control. Little has changed; as a matter of fact, I think things have gotten worse. Let me conclude the way I did three years ago: “We need to bring issues of mental health out of the closet. Several times I have shared how I broach this subject with my Hofstra students. Virtually every time one or more students come forth and says, ‘You were talking about me.’ We need to make mental health professionals more accessible to public school students. Unfortunately, guidance counselors, psychologists, and social workers are often the first to face the budget ax when times get tough.” How prophetic.

Ten reasons students drop out-- from the students themselves. If we listen to what they’re saying, we can begin to apply the appropriate remedies.

Dr. Steven Kussin was a high school principal for 21 years. You can hear his “CBS on Education” reports three times a day weekdays on WCBS Newsradio 880. He is also an adjunct professor at Hofstra University and an educational consultant for school districts around the country. Contact him at sk3015@aol.com.