i think it might also be because people often conflate two types of drop-outs: 1.) those who dropped out of school due to lack of financial or social resources

i think it might also be because people often conflate two types of drop-outs: 1.) those who dropped out of school due to lack of financial or social resources, or due to personal emotional problems 2.) those who dropped out of school because they had an incredible opportunity to capitalize on their natural talents and take advantage of their favorable surroundings many successful 'drop-out entrepreneurs' fall in the latter category ... they came from middle-class or upper-middle-class homes, their parents had advanced degrees, they often attended private high schools and prestigious colleges, etc. etc. etc. i'm afraid that if the meme of "dropping out is cool, just look at zuckerberg, gates, brin/page, etc." keeps propagating, that will give kids who aren't as advantaged (those in the former category) misguided expectations for what awaits them when they drop 'outside of the system'