American Idol David Archuleta May Be Ditching High School For Good

he's smart already. he's got a 4.0 GPA. th eway you guys are saying it is as if home-schooling isnt good and def wont work for him ,which might not be true.

There are plenty of gifted kids that home school or get GED's and are extremely successful. David has repeated the importance of his education many times. He is even considering medical school. His dedication to his craft and his education will always be a great example to young people who want to follow their dreams.

David has repeatedly said in interviews how important education is to him personally and in general. He doggedly completed his junior year while part of Idol this year. And, home schooling with professional tudors is not the same as dropping out (what a bizarre statement!). David is a wonderful role model in this regard.

You are obviously trying to create controversy that pleases your editor: "The rumor is that Archuleta will be home schooled, but that is just as good as saying he is dropping out. . . . The results of Archuleta's decision of whether or not to finish school could be one that sways other teens that look up to him."
Well over a million US students are home schooled each year for various reasons. In 2003, the National Home Education Research Institute conducted a survey of 7,300 U.S. adults who had been home schooled (5,000 for more than seven years). Their findings included:

* Homeschool graduates are active and involved in their communities. 71% participate in an ongoing community service activity, like coaching a sports team, volunteering at a school, or working with a church or neighborhood association, compared with 37% of U.S. adults of similar ages from a traditional education background.

* Homeschool graduates are more involved in civic affairs and vote in much higher percentages than their peers. 76% of those surveyed between the ages of 18 and 24 voted within the last five years, compared with only 29% of the corresponding U.S. populace. The numbers are even greater in older age groups, with voting levels not falling below 95%, compared with a high of 53% for the corresponding U.S. populace.

* 58.9% report that they are "very happy" with life, compared with 27.6% for the general U.S. population. 73.2% find life "exciting", compared with 47.3%.

I have been a public school teacher for 20+ years & am committed to quality education for all US students. David Archuleta worked very hard to keep up with his studies during his AI experience . . . always asserted his dedication to education . . . & will undoubtedly complete his high school credits. In many ways . . . as a disciplined student, as a good-natured, positive teen & as a gifted artist that works hard to reach his potential in life . . . he is a welcome example for our kids . . . a true rarity in the US today.

I thank you all for your input on this article. While Archuleta has stated publicly that school is a priority, it remains to be seen if he follows through with that promise. The pressures of becoming a star are tremendous, and those pressures will have to take a toll somewhere in his life. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that his schooling is the area that suffers. The article is simply suggesting that Archuleta has already withdrawn from his high school, and nobody actually knows how long the home schooling will last. Only time will tell. Once again, thank you all for your comments.

Oh boy, did you watch the show? David had state mandated schooling on the set of idol every day for three hours.

Are you serious??? David is setting a good example for all the teens out there. There can be no one else who can set a better example to teenagers than David Archuleta. He repeated several times in a lot of interviews that he will continue his education and that he thinks it is important in life. It is just crazy to expect him to go back to Murray Highschool just because it will not be practical to do that. How can you expect him and his classmates/schoolmates to concentrate if they will all be staring at him, drooling over him, and wanting to marry him. It is just a common sense that he should go the home-schooled route, there's nothing more he can choose from. Keep up the good work David! We are very proud of you!

This article is silly. Where are your facts? Did you ask David about his plans? This is a kid who IN EVERY INTERVIEW has said that schooling is important and he hopes to finish not only high school, but also college. He's maintained a high grade point average even during Idol. (I read that he received all As and one B while on Idol -- dropping from the 4.0 he recieved during his
Sophomore year.) His tutor went to many of his public appearances, and he took a study break while waiting to appear on the Today show. Did you watch any of this at all before writing your piece?

David's fans know that education is important to him. Clearly, you aren't a fan.

Wow, this person needs to do their research before making ignorant, heinous, and downright FALSE claims such as the ones in this article. David is certainly NOT dropping out of high school for good. He has stated in NUMEROUS interviews and press releases that he has every intention of continuing his education. It is extremely important to him, and he realizes that the music industry is not always a stable one, and that he needs an education to fall back onto in the long-run. How is withdrawing from classes at his public high school "just as good as saying he is dropping out?" That's bogus. Can you imagine a celebrity such as David going back to a setting where he is insanely popular and well-known? It would be crazy. He wouldn't be able to focus on his education, and problems would arise as a result. It would never be the same for him. So before you go writing about David "ditching high school for good," do your research and get your facts straight.

What are you TALKING about? He continued his high school education throughout the time he was on Idol - in fact, he had less time to rehearse because he had to study 3-4 hours a day!!! Obviously he can't continue at Murray High -but he is most definitely going to complete his senior year with "homeschooling" or "tutoring" or whatever you want to call it. Check your FACTS before making wild leaps like this!!

David's clearly stated that he intends to complete his high school education and will decide on college after that. I'm sure his young fanbase has received that message. The kid's smart; a 4.0 student.

You are an utter and complete idiot. Being home schooled is not the same as dropping out. David has said that he thinks education is important and wants to finish. He has also said nothing is guranteed in the entertainment business, and believes it is important to go to continue his education (right now, through private tutoring) since he can't rely on making a living on in the industry. So your "article" is ridiculous in that it equates home schooling and/or private tutoring with dropping out of school - not true at all. Why don't you trying telling that to the thousands of home schooled kids across the country. And then you don't even bother researching what David has said about finishing school. You are a moron. God, I wish they would take computers and internet access away from idiots like you.

Obviously you didn't do any research, as school is David's NUMBER ONE priority. He's not dropping out, he's getting homeschooled. Homeschooled and dropping out are two different things.

Its actually quite the opposite. Where did this writer come from? Under a rock? The writer really needs to get facts straight before assuming and implying so much.

...Or maybe just go back under that rock.

Cougarslovecook...Thanks for your response...we can all learn something from you as a Cook fan and still be willing to stand up to such a ridiculuos article...of course this is what this Maxamillion wanted! Oh well...Thanks!

Seriously!?!? Young Mr Archuleta may most likely opt to be "homeschooled" should he decide to continue with his career. That would be a very viable option and he wouldn't be the only artist to do that. To suggest that he would drop out makes no sense at all, given the fact that he is very high on education.

Adding to the obvious...homeschooling/private tutoring is as good, often better than, most conventional high school education. Both my sons were home schooled, entered 4 year colleges earlier than their peers, excelled academically, were accepted socially & are successful professionals today. David is bright & has an exceptionally practical outlook for 17 - he'll have a career & college, no doubt.

I am very sure that you have seen or read of David's many statements in interviews that education is a priority to him. I am sure that as a respected journalist you are aware that David said in several of his interviews that he wanted to have an education in case the "music thing" didn't work out. I am even sure that you know that David, like Jordin Sparks, received tutoring on during the AI season (3 hrs per day) and even during the media blizt after AI. So that means then that you only wrote this piece to create controversy. You know that David has many, many fans who love and admire him and are willing to respond to your article to defend him. Cha-ching?

My goodness, Max Williams you should have done your homework before writing this article. Not only did David A NOT drop out of school, he was the only contestant who had THREE (3) hours of homework a day - that works out to 15 hours LESS than alllll the other contestants to work on songs for that week.

Shame on you for sounding so terribly ignorant. Did you drop out of school?

the writer should stop writing and get a real job! he doesn't know how to research facts! gosh! i wonder if he is underpaid by his employer so he is doing a very bad job!!!

many child actors are 'tutored'/homeschooled. DA will not be the first. To equate homeschooling to dropping out is ignorant.

I wonder what the entire non-adult cast of the Harry Potter Series would say to your article?

You guys are retarded! He DID finish his junior year of h.s. through A.I. home schooling and will continue home schooling through his senior year.
DAVID ARCHULETA IS THE BEST EXAMPLE THERE IS NOW DAYS FOR THE YOUNG AND OLD!!

I've question the age requirement of AI as well, I do think they should be at least 18 to be part of this type of competition. Regarding David Archuleta, he has mentioned in all interviews in which he was asked about his education, that education is very important to him because you never know how long a successfull career in music will be. He seems to be very aware that it may not last for ever and must have an education to fall back on. He also has been home-schooled for half of his life (he's mentioned this as well in interviews) and apparentaly it has worked very well for him since he has a 4.0 average. He seems like the type of young man that would be able to balance a career in music, fame, and home schooling just fine.

You said: ". . . . Archuleta will be home schooled, but that is just as good as saying he is dropping out . . . ." As you can see you created a firestorm. The comments here debunked your claim. Let me add my own. You showed total ignorance. There are many kids who were home schooled and did very well. Some of them even excelled. One kid graduated from college at age ten (10). He was featured on TV. I have to resist naming more examples because it would do you a lot of good to do your research first to avoid making another stupid conclusion such as this one. Believe me, reading and researching will enrich your life and maybe even let you continue as a reporter. Right now, I can not say you are a reporter. Maybe you're an alleged reporter, yes.

I was all fired up to do a rebuttal on the obviously ill-prepared article in question. How delightful that so many, both young and old, "socked it to" the critic who didn't do his homework. Shame on you Mr. Whatshisface. You did not succeed in denigrating David's value but only showed how ignorant and UNschooled you really are.

This is one of the most ignorant articles I've read about DJA. Sounds to me like you are the one who has not a clue about what you are saying. David was home schooled during AI and will continue to be for his senior year. I have heard him state many times that it's VERY important to him to finish school.

There's no news so you make stuff up? David Archuleta has a tutor and had to have 3 hours of school every day during Idol, including during the homecoming visit, and after Idol ended. He has stated repeatedly that school is important to him. He decided to continue being homeschooled while working on his singing. and I believe he still has the same tutor who is not his dad.

Don't make stuff up - it doesn't speak well for your publication.

In my opinion, David Archuleta will probably be far better off getting his education through homeschooling than he would have received in a public shcool.

My three grandchildren are being homeschooled and are all excellent students. They are getting a better education by my daughter than the public schools could offer them. My daughter can provide an education geared to the growth level of each child and they are all excelling on every subject.
Although my daughter attended public schools she was often left to learn on her own because so much more time was spent on the "slower" students that she would get little instruction. Most of her education was achieved out of her desire to learn on her own. She is an outstanding educator for my grandchildren.