Why Is the Term "Dropout," in a Pejorative Sense, Associated

Why is the term "dropout," in a pejorative sense, associated with people who do not finish high school?

A) Mainstream America considers finishing high school a standard requirement for success.
B) The form used for stopping your high school career is called a "dropout" form.
C) Before recordkeeping was critical, attendance was taken by students standing in a line. When someone was no longer attending, it was said that he or she had "dropped out of line."
D) The first U.S. Department of Education director labeled children who did not finish high school as "dropouts."