THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT WERE TO IDENTIFY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF DROPOUTS AND OF PUPILS WHO PERSIST IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AND TO IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SCHOOLS WITH HIGH AND LOW HOLDING POWER. INFORMATION WAS GATHERED FROM APPROXIMATELY 73 SCHOOLS OR 10 PERCENT OF THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN IOWA. THE STUDY CONSIDERED THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT'S INTELLIGENCE READING GRADE LEVEL, ACHIEVEMENT TEST SCORES, REPORT CARD GRADES, AND PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. OTHER DATA PRESENTED SUCH ASPECTS OF THE SCHOOL PROGRAM AS SIZE, TEACHER LOAD, SCOPE AND NATURE OF CURRICULUM, MARKING AND PROMOTION POLICY, ACTIVITY PROGRAM, PROVISION FOR INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES, AND GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING SERVICES. SUCH PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUTH AS LOW INTELLIGENCE, LACK OF SCHOLASTIC SUCCESS, LOW ECONOMIC LEVEL OF FATHER'S OCCUPATION, PARENTAL LACK OF EDUCATION, AND LACK OF PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES WERE FOUND TO BE POSITIVELY CORRELATED WITH WITHDRAWAL FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THE LARGER SCHOOLS HAVE A POORER HOLDING POWER. A GOOD GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING PROGRAM AND A CURRICULUM WHICH PROVIDES FOR DIFFERENCES IN ABILITY COULD DO MUCH TO OVERCOME THE FORCES THAT ARE INFLUENCING YOUTH TO LEAVE SCHOOL BEFORE GRADUATION. (GC)