This monograph reviews the findings and recommendations of the Hispanic Dropout Project (HDP) and describes successful school-based strategies to combat the dropout problem and promote academic achievement among Hispanic students. Chapter 1 discusses the high Hispanic dropout rate; why Hispanic students drop out; stereotypes and realities; and HDP recommendations encompassing minimum guarantees of a quality education, schools' relationships with parents and families, the role of teachers, effective school strategies, and educational policy. Chapters 2-5 describe specific effective programs: (1) Lennox (California) Middle School's approach to personalizing the curriculum and involving parents and families; (2) Calexico (California) School District's secondary-level strategies, including emphasis on equity, commitment to bilingual education, a culture of continuous refinement, high expectations and support for meeting them, and alternative dropout programs; (3) three elementary programs--Success for All, Helping One Student to Succeed (HOSTS) (a mentoring and tutoring program), and Cognitively Guided Instruction (mathematics problem solving using students' prior knowledge); and (4) two secondary programs--the Coca-Cola Valued Youth program, in which high-risk middle school students tutor younger students, and Project AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), which features coaching, advocacy, and college preparation. In Chapter 6, four HDP members summarize observations and recommendations related to the quality of instruction, role of bilingual education, effects of tracking, resources and physical conditions, investing new resources, achieving attitudinal shifts, teacher preparation and professional development, identification and implementation of effective programs, challenging content and valuable relationships, individualization, time for results, aspects of program design and implementation, and politics of education. (Contains 13 references and a bibliography with an additional 131 references.) (SV)