Is it possible to quit school

Some states allow students to drop out at 16, while others will not allow you to make that decision until you're Though you can drop out with a legal guardian's consent if you're younger than the established age in some states, other states will not allow you to drop out before the age of 18, even with your guardian's consent. Make sure you know this information before dropping out. Don't just stop going to school.

Even though you're considered a drop-out if you just stop going to school altogether, the action of doing so without consulting the proper legal channels can have legal ramifications for you and your legal guardians [5] X Research source. Simply no longer attending school is referred to as truancy in legal terms. Becoming truant may stand in your way of receiving a high school equivalency.

Understand the testing requirements for drop-outs in your state. In some states, you might be allowed to legally leave school early if your legal guardians agree and if you pass a High School equivalency test or get a GED.

Make sure to research if your state adopts this policy. Talk to your guidance counselor or administrative advisor about the required paperwork. Each state and school district has different forms that you and your parents need to fill out. Make sure to consult with the appropriate person at your school to find out which documents need to be filed and when they have to be returned.

Be aware that your guidance counselor may try to talk you out of your decision. Be prepared to offer your reasons for making your decision and be confident in your decision. Part 4. Consider online schools and home schooling. These options, if pursued with a measure of dedication, will earn you a diploma while allowing you to do it at your own pace and without the social encumbrances associated with high school.

Think about work-study programs. This could be a great option that you can work on with your school's staff. If there's a particular field of work you're interested in, you might consider a work-study program. Not only would you be able to finish school, but you might end up graduating with job options [7] X Research source. Think about what you'd like to do for a living. If you've decided that any kind of academic environment is wrong for you, you might want to start thinking about technical career paths.

A GED General Education Development , often referred to a high school-equivalency degree, is an exam that you can take to show employers that you have the education of someone with a high school diploma without having to go to school.

If the stress is too much and you find it's getting unbearable and is starting to badly affect your mental health, then it's valid. You should look into other options first, though. Not Helpful 45 Helpful My parents are forcing me to drop out of school, because I'm already What can I do if I don't want to do so? Just don't do it. They legally cannot force you to drop out; that's not how it works. If they disown you, so be it. If needed, and you have no supportive relatives, you can spend a year or two in foster care until you are Not Helpful 57 Helpful If this career doesn't pan out for you and there's a very good chance it won't , you'll have nothing to fall back on if you quit school.

You can be a YouTuber in your spare time. Not Helpful 69 Helpful I want to drop out at 16 and move to California to finish my high school education. I live in Missouri. Can I buy a house and go to school? I live in California and let me tell you that living here is not cheap.

Don't forget that there's also the need to buy groceries, clothes, insurance, etc. Furthermore, you'd have a lot of trouble finding someone willing to rent to you or sell you a house because you're under Not Helpful 16 Helpful It depends on the requirements of the technical school. What do I need to know if my child wants to drop out of school? You are responsible for making sure your child goes to school.

There is the possibility that the school district will bring a court case against you if your child is truant. The best thing you can do is to work with the school and your child to develop an alternative school plan. You may have some old college credits that you can apply when you return to school. You can determine this by getting access to your transcripts and speaking to an advisor from the school you plan to attend.

In most cases, you can request your transcripts online through a web portal or use a form to request a digital transcript. If necessary, look into financial aid options to help you cover some of the costs of going back to school. Financial aid can help cover other expenses like tuition, course credits, books and materials, and more.

The flexible class schedules allow you to complete your coursework on your own time. I confirm that the information provided on this form is accurate and complete. I also understand that certain degree programs may not be available in all states. Message and data rates may apply. I understand that consent is not a condition to purchase any goods, services or property, and that I may withdraw my consent at any time by sending an email to optout nu. I understand that if I am submitting my personal data from outside of the United States, I am consenting to the transfer of my personal data to, and its storage in, the United States, and I understand that my personal data will be subject to processing in accordance with U.

Some students also feel discouraged or intimidated by the culture of standardized testing and the pressure to become college- and career-ready. Of course, even some post-secondary students consider dropping out of college , sometimes for similar reasons as those above. What's clear is that almost nobody just suddenly decides to become a dropout. For many people who leave school, dropping out is the final result of feeling hopeless or disengaged over a long period of time.

That's why a lot of school districts have dropout prevention programs aimed at helping teachers and administrators discover and assist students who are at the greatest risk of leaving school. They consider factors such as:. In fact, some of the most successful people in the world never graduated from high school. And for every famous dropout, many other dropouts exist who quietly lead prosperous and fulfilling lives.

Some of the most well-known high school dropouts include:. Contrary to what some people mistakenly believe, Microsoft's most famous cofounder did graduate from high school. However, Bill Gates is not a college graduate. He dropped out of Harvard. But he has received many special honors throughout the years. As a result, Bill Gates does have a college degree. In fact, he has several honorary doctorate degrees from various universities around the world, including Harvard.

The bottom line is that you don't need your high school diploma to make it in life, but your path could be a lot more challenging if you don't have it.

With a clear vision of what you want, almost anything is possible. But it generally takes a lot of drive, courage, skill, effort, and luck in order to attain such high levels of success. And not every high school dropout is so fortunate.

The consequences of dropping out of high school are that you will be more likely to become a prison inmate or the victim of a crime. Simply put, a lot of bad stuff potentially happens if you drop out. Those consequences aren't guaranteed by any means.

But you'll be at greater risk of experiencing them. Consider these facts:. So if you want to minimize your risk of experiencing negative consequences, then it is important to have a high school diploma or an equivalent credential like a GED. Few people would ever recommend making this decision. And that includes people who have already dropped out.

That says a lot. But you don't need a lecture. You have your own reasons for considering this path. And maybe you've already pursued it and just need some extra guidance to help you move forward from where you are right now. So how do you drop out of high school without messing up your future? Great question. No single formula exists that will work for everyone.

However, a high school dropout can be successful by taking some of the seven actions below. These steps could go a long way toward keeping you out of trouble while steering you closer to success. Every state in America has mandatory schooling. It is against the law for a child not to go to school. If you don't attend a public, private, or parochial school, you must be homeschooled in accordance with your state's laws.

So, at what age can you drop out of school without parental consent? Depending on the particular state, all students are legally required to stay in school until reaching the age of 16, 17, 18, or 19 if they don't graduate first.

That means you cannot drop out of middle school. It also means that it's essential to know the legal age to drop out of school in your state. According to the National Center for Education Statistics , as of Keep in mind that the rules for dropping out aren't always as straightforward as reaching a certain age.

For example, you can drop out of school at 16 in New York, but only if the board of education for your school district doesn't have additional requirements. In some districts, you may be required to stay in school until the last day of the academic year in which you become the legal age to drop out. Despite these requirements, most states will allow students to drop out before reaching the legal age as long as they have their parents' consent.

However, some states also require approval from school officials, which can be difficult to attain. And in a few states, you might have to pass a GED exam or other high school equivalency test. Simply put, you can drop out of high school if you meet the requirements of both your state and school district.

What are the consequences of dropping out before you reach the legal age? If you don't have state authorization to stop attending school, you might be cited for truancy. And that can lead to costly legal problems for you as well as your parents. Punishment might include monetary fines, community service, or the suspension of your driver's license. In some cases, you might even need permission in order to work.

It always helps to see where you're trying to go. So put it on paper. That way, you'll be less likely to make a decision that slams the door on one or more of your dreams. And you'll have a better idea of where to focus your attention and which challenges are truly worth taking on.

For example, start visualizing the goals that you want to achieve in each area of your life. Or at least brainstorm several possibilities that make you feel good when you think about them.

Where do you want to live? What kind of job will you enjoy? Will you have kids? If so, how many? Will you travel? How much will you need to earn in order to have the kind of lifestyle you want? The more specific you make your goals, the better.

They'll begin to create a roadmap to your future. Then you can research exactly what you'll need to do to get there. For some goals, dropping out of high school might not matter so much.

But for most goals, you may discover that you'll need to take some extra actions that high school graduates usually don't need to take. And that's OK. It's just better to know what those challenges might be up front.

This step plays a major part in deciding what to do after dropping out of high school. After writing down your goals, take a lot of time to research what you'll need and how you might make them happen.

For example, will you need a college degree or a specific kind of vocational credential in order to qualify for the career you want? If so, you may need to find schools and special programs that assist high school dropouts with learning the college- and career-readiness skills that can lead to success.