Dropout Confusion

When I was in school dropping out of school was a big deal. When someone dropped out it buzzed all over school in no time. We as students were concerned about the person leaving school. The teachers seemed distraught for most of the day. IT WAS A BIG DEAL.

Now as a teacher it seems that dropping out seems almost expected! In my school of nearly 1,000 I have seen 3 drop out forms this week alone. Two of the forms were from kids who are relatively popular but not good students. The silence from the school community is deafening. When did dropping out become a quiet thing for which no one blinks? This should NOT be a routine occurrence yet it seems so at my school. What the hell is going on here? Am I just being naive?