Reading proficiency can set students on a healthy educational trajectory, making it easier for them to learn throughout their school lives. Early reading skills play a key role in lowering dropout rates, according to a 2011 study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. 74 percent of students who have not achieved reading proficiency by third grade struggle in later grades, according to the study, and poor reading skills in third grade correlate with an increased risk of dropping out.
Reading plays a role in learning no matter what study strategy students use. Students who struggle through textbooks and worksheets may opt to ignore their work altogether. They might also find the work so tedious that they lose interest in learning. Finding value in learning -- and even perceiving learning as fun -- plays a critical role in school achievement. Students who see learning as little more than a frustrating experience might choose to avoid it altogether by dropping out.
Poor grades can play a significant role in the decision to drop out of high school, according to the Oregon Department of Education. Students are even more likely to drop out when they've been held back two or more grade levels. Students with poor reading skills may be held back to help them catch up, and they're more likely to struggle in all of their classes.
Poor reading skills correlate with other risk factors for dropping out of school. For example, children with poor reading skills are more likely to be poor, and poverty itself can play a role in the decision to drop out, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Poor support -- both within the school system and at home -- contributes to a student's decision to drop out, and students with poor reading skills may struggle with reading because they have not received adequate support.