Today's high school graduates are entering a world in which they will need at least some college to gain access to decent-paying careers, according to the 2007 edition of "Diplomas Count." Those without even a high school diploma will face increasingly bleak labor-market prospects. This report, "Ready for What? Preparing Students for College, Careers, and Life After High School," draws on two national databases to examine the distribution of jobs nationally and within each state, as well as the related education and pay levels. This report also provides detailed data on graduation rates across the 50 states and the District of Columbia, and in the nation's 50 largest school districts. The findings underscore that to earn a decent wage in the United States, young people need to anticipate completing at least some college. While it is clear that more education is associated with higher pay, it is far less clear what mix of academic and nonacademic skills will best prepare young people for college and careers.