Should High School Students Drop Out

In North Carolina the age requirement for a student to drop out is 16. A rule that has ruined the students of NC by allowing them to take a life impacting decision. The age for dropping out should be removed to make all students at least finish high school or get a GED. In a world where most jobs require at least a high school diploma or an equivalent, the government should make kids finish high school. While back in the day it would not impact a student if they finish high school because they were still able to make a living and support their family through manual labor, times have changed. Most well paying jobs require their employee to have a diploma. According to a study at the University of Georgetown, by 2020 65% of jobs will require an education beyond high school or postsecondary schooling. By allowing students to drop out at the age of 16 they are letting them fall behind. Most people that have not completed at least a high school diploma have a harder time finding a job and if they find a job they live on a paycheck to paycheck bases.
Throughout high school,
Schools often offer more than just the basic Math, Science, English etc. that are beneficial to teenagers. Most high schools have specific programs that will allow kids to narrow what they are best at like job shadowing. Job shadowing is a great opportunity for students to test out a career and that might increase their interest of actually going to college for it. They also offer college classes that are free of cost to juniors and seniors, so many are able to graduate high school and already have college credit that would put them in a more advanced position when they choose to attend college. Most schools are now offering STEM classes that allow the students to not only learn the basic foundation of their education but also learn a skill if the decide that a 4 year college is not for