IT WAS MAINTAINED THAT SOCIALIZATION IN MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES PREPARED YOUTH TO COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY IN SCHOOL WHILE IN LOWER-CLASS FAMILIES, CHILDREN WERE NOT TRAINED TO CONFORM TO ACADEMIC (FORMAL) AND SOCIAL (INFORMAL) REQUIREMENTS OF THE SCHOOL. FRUSTRATION AROSE FROM STATUS DEPRIVATION AMONG THE LOWER CLASSES IN THEIR ACTIVITIES IN BOTH THE FORMAL AND INFORMAL ASPECTS OF THE SCHOOL. THE STUDENT HAD TWO BASIC ALTERNATIVES, DEPENDING ON HIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS HIS FAILURE. IF HE BLAMED THE SYSTEM, HE WOULD MOST LIKELY JOIN A DELINQUENT GANG. IF HE BLAMED HIMSELF HE WOULD DROP OUT. WHEN AN ADOLESCENT ASSUMED PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS STATUS DEPRIVATION, THE PROBABILITY OF DROPPING OUT WAS MAXIMIZED, ESPECIALLY IF THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT CONTACT WITH OTHER DROPOUTS AND LITTLE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FROM HIS FAMILY.