School dropouts, or the suspension of studies without obtaining a certificate, have dramatically declined in Italy in recent years, pointing the country toward European targets. The performance of female students is particularly noteworthy, as their dropout rate has decreased to 7.1%, which is lower than both the European average and that of males. The South is also improving, previously the country’s worst performer. This is the conclusion drawn from the Invalsi report on school dropouts, delivered to the Ministry of Education. "These findings are the outcome of targeted educational programs and specific interventions targeted at preventing early school dropout", explains Invalsi. Overall, the explicit dropout rate in 2024 is 9.8%, an all-time low—the EU target for 2030 is 9%. Female dropout in Italy is below the EU average of 7.7%. Male dropout remains higher, at 12.2% in 2024, compared to the EU’s 10.9%. Even in the South, female dropout rates have declined, and girls outperform males.