| This non-experimental qualitative grounded theory study explored the perceptions of middle and high school teachers regarding the reasons why male students drop out of high school in Granville County, North Carolina. The researcher administered 60 teacher surveys which served as the primary source of data collection. The surveys were comprised of open-ended questions as a means to allow the survey respondents to suggest themes rather than respond to preconceived notions. The researcher used initial and focused coding to interpret abstractions that were tied to the data. The central theme that emerged from the findings was related to the influence of peers in a male high school student's decision to drop out of school. The results of the study suggest that educational leaders in Granville County Schools need to develop effective dropout prevention strategies with peer groups as the focal point. The opportunity to extend beyond the traditional activities of student support programs now exists to build creative, sustainable, and dynamic educational environments that will engage all students in a rigorous and relevant education built upon positive peer and adult relationships. |
