This book collects articles that examine the patterns of dropping out evident among American youth, and the policies developed and implemented to reduce the incidence of dropping out. The following chapters (and their authors) are included: (1) Introduction (G. Natriello); (2) Can We Help Dropouts? Thinking about the Undoable (D. Mann); (3) Large School Systems' Dropout Reports: An Analysis of Definitions, Procedures and Findings (F. M. Hammack); (4) Standardizing Practice in the Analysis of School Dropouts (G. Morrow); (5) Who Drops Out of High School and Why? Findings from a National Study (R. B. Ekstrom, M. F. Goertz, J. M. Pollack, D. A. Rock); (6) Dropping Out: How Much Do Schools Contribute to the Problem? (G. G. Wehlage, R. A. Rutter); (7) Why Urban Adolescents Drop into and out of Public High School (M. Fine); (8) A Population at Risk: Potential Consequences of Tougher School Standards for Student Dropouts (E. L. McDill, G. Natriello, A. M. Pallas); (9) Raising Standards and Reducing Dropout Rates (S. F. Hamilton); and (10) Taking Stock: Renewing Our Research Agenda on the Causes and Consequences of Dropping Out (G. Natriello; A. M. Pallas, E. L. McDill). A list of notes appears at the end of each chapter. A list of contributors is appended. (BJV)