In the summer of 1982, the Austin Independent School District (AISD) Office of Research and Evaluation (ORE) conducted a survey of dropouts. Dropouts are defined in this study as students who withdrew from AISD schools prior to receiving their high school diploma and are not known to have attended other schools. The dropouts were interviewed to find out the issues that may have influenced their decision to withdraw. The Dropout Study had three major purposes, which were to: (1) examine the reasons dropouts stated for withdrawing from school; (2) examine the decision-making processes dropouts pursue prior to withdrawal; and (3) ascertain whether there are commonalities among dropouts, the identification of which may assist AISD in developing dropout prevention programs and/or activities. Ninety-five young people were interviewed from a total sample size of 566; this represents nearly 17 percent of the total number of dropouts. Contact was attempted with nearly 400 dropouts. Hispanic school leavers were given special emphasis in this study. The results are reported in detail. (PN)