In fall 1982, a study was conducted in the Peralta Community College District (PCCD) using withdrawal and grade distribution data to analyze student retention patterns. Successful retention rates were based on the percentage of students who received a passing grade, while total retention rates were based on the percentage of students who received any grade other than W (withdrawal). Study findings included the following: (1) class enrollment declined by 6.5% and headcount enrollment by 8.5% from fall 1981 to fall 1982, with Laney College being the only school in the district experiencing an increase; (2) PCCD's successful retention rate increased from 58.9% in fall 1981 to 62.9% in fall 1982; (3) physical education was the discipline with the greatest proportion of enrollments at four out of five colleges; (4) the following programs had over a 90% successful retention rate: General Studies (93%) and Diesel Mechanics (92.9%) at College of Alameda (COA), Speech (91.3%) at Laney College, Machine Technology (100%) and Nursing (91.5%) at Merritt College, and Italian (98.6%) at Vista College; (6) the lowest successful retention rate at COA was in Urban Studies (35.3%), at Laney in Carpentry (38.4%), at Merritt in Real Estate (30.4%), at Vista in Philosophy (21.4%), and at Feather River College in History (50.2%); and (7) A's and B's represented 60% of all passing grades given in the PCCD. Tables showing retention rates and grade distributions by college and discipline are appended. (LAL)