A 1-year research project was undertaken to discover how the arts could help keep at-risk high school students in school. The project was conducted in three phases. In phase 1, recent literature was reviewed to define criteria for the at-risk student and to identify implications for the arts in dropout prevention programs. Phase 2 consisted of interviews with Florida high school administrators, arts teachers, and at-risk students to identify aspects of arts courses that seemed to be most effective in motivating those students to remain in school. In phase 3, field observation of at-risk students was conducted through on-site observation at seven selected high schools. Administrators and arts teachers also were interviewed informally regarding their impressions of: (1) the effects of arts activities on retention of at-risk students and (2) specific cases of at-risk students who succeeded directly as a function of their interest and progress in one or more of the arts areas. The project findings grouped into two areas: (1) effects of the arts on student motivation; and (2) strategies and motivational techniques used by the arts teachers. There was strong evidence that arts programs currently offered in Florida's high schools helped students who border on dropping out of school; therefore, it was recommended that the project be repeated with a broader geographical distribution. A 39-item list of references is included along with two appendices: (1) summary of responses to student questionnaires and (2) a table on the percentages of on-task behavior of at-risk students observed in arts classes and academic classes. (KM)