"I Quit School in My First Year"... High School Dropouts Surpass 10,000 for the First Time

Number of Dropouts at General High Schools Nationwide Reaches 18,661
Record High, Increase in Direct Transition to Qualification Exam and CSAT

Last year, the number of general high school students nationwide who dropped out exceeded 18,000, marking the highest figure in the past seven years. In particular, the number of first-year high school students who dropped out surpassed 10,000 for the first time.

According to Yonhap News on June 7, citing an analysis by Jongro Academy of dropout statistics from 1,703 general high schools disclosed on the School Information website, a total of 18,661 students dropped out last year. This represents an increase of 163 students (0.9%) compared to the previous year’s total of 18,498, making it the highest number in the past seven years. The dropout category includes voluntary withdrawals, expulsions, and removals from the register, with the majority reportedly being voluntary withdrawals.

By grade, first-year high school students accounted for 10,450 dropouts, making up 56.0% of the total. This was followed by 7,346 second-year students (39.4%) and 865 third-year students (4.6%). Notably, this is the first time since Jongro Academy began compiling these statistics that the number of first-year high school dropouts has surpassed 10,000. The number of first-year high school dropouts more than doubled in five years, rising from 5,015 in 2020 to 10,450 last year.

The number of high school students who drop out and directly proceed to the qualification exam and the College Scholastic Ability Test is increasing. Yonhap News

By region, the number of first-year high school dropouts in Seoul decreased by 2.3% compared to the previous year, while Gyeonggi and Incheon saw an increase of 11.6%, and other provinces recorded a 4.3% rise. Among cities and provinces, the dropout rate increased the most in Gwangju (22.1%), followed by Chungnam (13.3%), and Gyeonggi (12.5%).

Jongro Academy pointed out that the introduction of the five-level internal grade system for first-year high school students last year may have contributed to the increase in dropouts. Under the previous nine-level system, the second grade covered the top 11%, but under the new five-level system, the second grade now includes up to the top 34%. While this change appears to have eased competition on the surface, analysis suggests that anxiety among students has grown, with heightened concerns that failing to achieve the top grade could make it difficult to gain admission to major universities.

Along with the increase in dropouts, the number of College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) applicants with qualification exam backgrounds is also rising. For the 2026 CSAT, the number of qualification exam applicants reached 22,355, the highest in 31 years since the 1995 CSAT (42,297). For the past two years, the number has exceeded 20,000, and it has continued to increase for eight consecutive years since 2018.

According to the admissions industry, there is a growing trend of students who feel disadvantaged by internal grade competition choosing to withdraw from school, take the qualification exam, and then apply to universities through CSAT-focused admissions. It has been pointed out that schools need to offer diverse pathways for advancement and introduce institutional measures to help students who are not at the top of their class prepare for university entrance in a stable manner.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.