The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) definitions used for dropouts include students who satisfy one or more of the following conditions:

1. Was enrolled in school at some time during the previous school year and was not enrolled as of Count Day of the current year, or
2. Was enrolled in school at some time during the previous school year and left the school before the previous summer, and
3. Has not graduated from high school or completed a state or district-approved educational program, and
4. Does not meet any of the following exclusionary conditions:

4a. transfer to another public school district, private school, or state or district-approved educational program, 4b. temporary school-recognized absence for suspension or illness, death, or 4c. move out of the state or leave the country

A student who has left the regular program to attend an adult program designed to earn a High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) or an adult high school diploma administered by a community college is considered a dropout. However, a student who enrolls in an alternative school or alternative program administered by a public school district is not considered a dropout.

The numerator of the dropout rate is the total number of dropouts in the school year for the 7th through 12th grade and the denominator is the total fall enrollment of 7th through 12th grades.