Gangnam 3 Districts Experience Highest High School Dropout Rate in Seoul… Intensifying Focus on CSAT Over Academic Grades

The percentage of high school students leaving schools in the so-called 'Gangnam 3 Districts'—Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu, and Songpa-gu—has been found to be the highest in Seoul.

According to statistics on academic dropout rates by administrative district released by the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, the dropout rate for general high schools in Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu was 2.7% each last year, marking the highest in Seoul, while Songpa-gu followed with a rate of 2.1%. This means that about 2 to 3 out of every 100 enrolled students in these areas are leaving the regular education system.

Notably, this dropout rate has been continually increasing. In Gangnam-gu, the rate began at 1.4% in 2021, rose to 1.9% in 2022, and reached 2.2% in 2023, skyrocketing to 2.7% last year.

Seocho-gu also saw a significant jump from 1.3% in 2021 to 2.4% in 2022, dipped to 1.8% in 2023, and then surged again to 2.7% last year.

Songpa-gu experienced an increase from 1.0% in 2021 to 1.6% in 2022, and recorded 2.1% for both 2023 and last year.

Choosing the Route of 'Dropping Out → GED → CSAT' Due to Poor Grades

The rising dropout rate in the Gangnam 3 Districts is analyzed to be closely related to changes in the college entrance exam environment.

Following the allegations of college entrance exam fraud involving the children of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, criticism of the early admissions process intensified, prompting the Ministry of Education under the Moon Jae-in administration to raise the ratio of regular admissions at major universities in Seoul to over 40%.

Including those who transition from early admissions to regular admissions, this has established a structure where nearly half of new students at major universities are selected through regular admissions.

In this environment, students with poor academic grades have increasingly focused on CSAT preparation rather than school classes, leading to the emergence of what is referred to in educational circles as "regular college entrance exam fighters."

The most extreme form of these "regular college entrance exam fighters" involves students who drop out of school, obtain their high school diploma through the GED, and focus solely on CSAT preparation in private academies.

Especially in the Gangnam 3 Districts, which offer the highest accessibility to private education related to the CSAT nationwide, this phenomenon has become even more pronounced.

Concerns Over Increased Dropouts Due to Introduction of High School Credit System and 5-Grade System

Reflecting this trend, among the new students at Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University this year, there were 259 students from GED backgrounds, a 37% increase compared to the previous year, and the highest number in the last eight years.

Education experts express concerns that the newly implemented high school credit system, along with the introduction of the 5-grade system, may further accelerate this phenomenon starting from this year's first-year students.

Im Sung-ho, head of Jongno Academy, stated, "Under the 5-grade system, if students do not rank in the top 10%, they immediately drop to the second grade, which comprises the 11-34% range. Students in high-ranking classes who did not achieve top grades in all subjects during the first semester may deeply contemplate dropping out."

Image source: An image of applicants for the GED for elementary, middle, and high school. /News1, News1