Diliara Valeeva - PhD Candidate at the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam. Address: 1001NE, Nieuwe Achtergracht, 166, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: D. Valeeva@uva.nl

Sofia Dokuka - Candidate of Sciences in Social Structure, Social Institutes and Processes, Research Fellow at theCenter for Institutional Studies of the International Research Laboratory for Institutional Analysis of Economic Reforms, National Research University — Higher School of Economics. Address: 20 Myasnitskaya str., 101000, Moscow, Russian Federation. E-mail: sdokuka@hse.ru

Maria Yudkevich - Candidate of Sciences in Economic Theory, Associate Professor, Vice Rector, Director of theCenter for Institutional Studies, National Research University — Higher School of Economics. Address: 20 Myasnitskaya str., 101000, Moscow, Russian Federation. E-mail: yudkevich@hse.ru

Student academic failures have been traditionally explained by their abilities, socioeconomic status, institutional and social environment. However, the same factors are ignored by researchers when it comes to students at risk of dropping out. Using data about dynamic social networks, we study changes in the status of students with retakes. It was  revealed that over time students with low academic achievements become socially isolated that increases their risk of dropping out. The article offers recommendations on surmounting such isolation and contributes to studies of social engagement of students in institutional and social environment.