Adolescents that do not attend junior high: characterization of their academic trajectory, living conditions and decision to drop out

This article analyzes a survey among 15 year-old adolescents that dropped out of the formal educational system before completing junior high. It is the first study that uses data on cognitive skills, self-perception of skills and expectations of future studies that were gathered when these adolescents were attending primary school. Over two thirds dropped out when they were 14 year old or younger and 40% never enrolled in junior high. This suggests that the decision of dropping out of school is also significant at earlier ages than those generally discussed in prior studies. In most cases the decision to drop out of school was supported by the family or made together.