Legal Question in Family Law in Pennsylvania

Guidelines for Dropping Out of School

I am 17 years old and am looking to drop out of high school. My parents tell me that they will call the police on me if I don't go but, the legal age to drop out without parental consent is 17. My parent's argument is that since I am not emancipated they get to decide what I do. I am looking for the legal determination for this scenario, not a lecture on how I should life my life (while in school I was ranked 3 in my class and in all honors or advanced placement classes, after much thought i have decided to pursue different endeavors in my life).

Thanks for any help and please cite sources if possible


Asked on 8/08/12, 4:50 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
John Davidson Law Office of John A. Davidson

Sounds like High school is boring you to tears. I had a classmate like you in high school. So why is high school taking 4 years. My classmate did it in 3. Back then 1972 the roadblock was that you had to have 4 years of English. So he took 1 year of English in summer school and "graduated" or left high school with the diploma in 3 years. I think he ended up at MIT last I heard.

So what's keeping you from getting your HS diploma and cease to be a burden to the taxpayers. Then you can be out and your parents will have nothing to say.

As for the legal side of it. Well a judge might let you or he might not. So you be better off in both the short and long term to just get it done as fast as you can.

{John}

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Answered on 8/09/12, 6:46 am


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