Summary
The (NC) Dropout Data Collection uses several classifications to organize students, evaluate enrollment, and determine which Dropout program records are included in reporting. Review these classifications before researching Potential Dropouts or correcting Edit Checks.
These classifications describe how the reports process available data. Refer to the current Dropout Data Manual to determine whether a student meets the dropout definition or qualifies for an exemption.
Report Classification Overview
The repots use 3 separate concepts:
| Concept | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Prior Enrollment Type | Describes the student's reporting-year enrollment pattern and determines how subsequent enrollment is evaluated. |
| Resolution Evidence | Identifies system evidence that may resolve the student from dropout reporting. |
| Dropout Type | Classifies a reported Dropout program record for reporting and summary calculations. |
Keep these concepts separate when reviewing the reports. A student's Prior Enrollment Type may differ from the Dropout Type assigned to the student's Dropout program record.
Prior Enrollment Type
Prior Enrollment Type is based on the student's authoritative last actual enrollment during the reporting year.
The reports use the following Prior Enrollment Types:
Early Leaver
The report assigns Early Leaver when the student's authoritative last reporting-year enrollment ended before the school's last day.
The student's subsequent enrollment must meet the Applicable Day 20 requirements used by the report.
Completer
The report assigns Completer when the student's authoritative las reporting-year enrollment:
- Does not contain an exit date; or
- Ended on or after the school's last day.
A Completer may be resolved when the report finds at least 1 day of qualifying actual membership on or before the Applicable Day 20.
Previous CCAHS
The report assigns Previous CCAHS when the student remains in the prior Community College Adult High School reporting process and no qualifying reporting-year enrollment replaces that classification.
A Previous CCAHS student's subsequent enrollment must meet the Applicable Day 20 requirements used by the report.
Note: Previous CCAHS is a Prior Enrollment Type. It does not mean that every related Dropout program record will automatically be reported as CCAHS.
For more information about how enrollment is evaluated, refer to How Applicable Day 20 Is Used in Dropout Reports.
Authoritative Reporting Enrollment
The reports use the student's true last actual membership during the reporting year to determine the reporting school, grade, and Prior Enrollment Type.
The qualifying enrollment must meet the report requirements for:
- Primary enrollment
- State reporting inclusion
- Actual membership
- Admission status
- Grade level
- Regular school-year enrollment
A later no-show, summer school enrollment, or administrative enrollment does not replace a qualifying actual enrollment as the authoritative reporting enrollment.
Even 1 day of qualifying actual membership may affect the reporting school and grade.
Resolution Evidence
Resolution evidence is information the reports use to determine whether a student remains unresolved for dropout reporting.
Resolution evidence is not a Prior Enrollment Type or Dropout Type.
Qualifying Enrollment
The reports search statewide enrollment data for evidence that the student enrolled during the reporting or submission year.
Whether the enrollment resolves the student depends on:
- The Prior Enrollment Type
- The enrollment dates
- Actual membership
- The Applicable Day 20
Valid Graduation
The reports recognize a valid high school graduation when both of the following are present:
- A Graduation record containing a Diploma Date and Diploma Type
- A qualifying W4 or W6 high school enrollment in the same PSU context
A Graduation record by itself does not satisfy the report's graduation validation.
W3 or Death Evidence
The reports evaluate W3 withdrawal information as system evidence of a student's death.
The effect of W3 evidence depends on:
- Whether the W3 is associated with the authoritative last actual enrollment
- Whether the W3 occurred on or before the Applicable Day 20
- Whether qualifying current-year enrollment also exists
- Whether a related Dropout program record exists
W3 is resolution evidence. It is not a Prior Enrollment Type or Dropout Type.
Other Documented Evidence
Some information cannot be independently verified through the report. Examples may include enrollment in a private school, home school, approved program, or another circumstance documented outside NCSIS.
Review the documentation according to the current Dropout Data Manual, then correct the applicable Enrollment, Graduation, or Dropout program record.
Potential Dropout
A Potential Dropout is a student whose status cannot be resolved using the system evidence available to the report.
A student may appear in (NC) DR04 - Potential Dropouts (State) even when a Dropout program record already exists. The presence of a Dropout record is informational and doe snot, by itself, resolve the student.
The Potential Dropouts report includes record-status indicators such as:
- Whether a Dropout record was found
- Whether an open or active record exists
- Whether a record will be reported
- Whether a record ended before the Applicable Day 20
- Whether multiple qualifying , open, or reportable records exist
A Potential Dropout is not automatically a confirmed dropout. Research the student's status and correct the appropriate source data.
Dropout Type
Dropout Type classifies an applicable Dropout program record for reporting.
The reports use the following Dropout Types:
| Dropout Type | How the report assigns it |
|---|---|
| CCAHS | The Dropout program record contains the CCAHS Dropout Reason. |
| Expulsion | The Dropout program record contains the EXPL Dropout Reason. |
| Early Leaver | The record does not contain CCAHS or EXPL, and the student's Prior Enrollment Type is Early Leaver. |
| Completer | The record does not contain CCAHS or EXPL, and the student's Prior Enrollment Type is Completer. |
The Dropout Type affects how the student appears in the Dropout Summary:
- All 4 Dropout Types are included in the overall dropout count.
- CCAHS and Expulsion are excluded from the North Carolina state dropout-rate population.
- Early Leaver and Completer are included in the state dropout-rate population.
Refer to the current Dropout Data Manual when determining the appropriate Dropout Reason.
Reported Dropout
A Reported Dropout is based on an individual Dropout program record that meets the report's inclusion requirements.
The report evaluates whether the record:
- Matches the student's authoritative reporting context
- Remains active through the Applicable Day 20
- Is not resolved by valid graduation evidence
- Is not resolved by qualifying enrollment
- Meets the other reporting conditions applied by the collection
Because Reported Dropout Detail is record-based, duplicate reportable records may appear until the corresponding Edit Checks are corrected.
The Dropout Summary counts distinct students by reporting school so duplicate records do not inflate the summary counts.
How the Classifications Work Together
Use the following sequence when reviewing a student:
- Review the Prior Enrollment Type to understand the reporting-year enrollment pattern.
- Review the Applicable Day 20 and subsequent enrollment evidence.
- Review graduation, W3, and other resolution evidence.
- Determine whether the student remains a Potential Dropout.
- Review the applicable Dropout program record.
- Review the Dropout Type assigned to the record.
- Confirm whether the record appears in Reported Dropout Detail.
- Correct any related Edit Checks.
