Under Georgia's “compulsory education” law, children must attend full-time school or a home study program until they graduate from high school or turn 16. However, 16- and 17-year-old Floridians must meet certain requirements before they're allowed to leave school. Read on for details.
Georgia's Requirements for Dropping Out Legally
Once students are at least 16 years old, Georgia law allows them to leave school before completing all of the requirements for a diploma, but only if they:
- have their parents’ written permission, and
- participate with their parents in a conference with school officials.
Without parental permission, students may not drop out until they turn 18 or become legally emancipated. (Ga. Code § 20-2-690.1(e) (2019).)
No Driver's License and Other Costs of Dropping Out
Dropping out of school often carries financial consequences down the road, but there may also be short-term costs. Dropouts can’t get a driver’s license in Georgia until they turn 18, unless they’ve received or are working on getting a GED diploma, or they’re enrolled in postsecondary education. (Ga. Code § 40-5-22(a.1)(1) (2019).)
If students simply stop going to school before they graduate or meet the requirements for dropping out legally, Georgia's truancy laws generally focus penalties on their parents. But truant students could end up in juvenile court if they have enough unexcused absences.
High School Equivalency Tests
In Georgia, anyone who is at least 16 years old and isn’t currently enrolled in high school may take the GED test. However, those who aren’t yet 18 must enroll in a state-approved adult education program and receive approval before they can take the test. Anyone who passes the four-part test will earn a high school equivalency certificate, which is comparable to high school graduation. (See the Technical College System of Georgia’s GED page for more information about test requirements, costs, and how to register.)