More students are deciding to dropout of school prior to graduation. As a result the dropout rate has become a hot topic in education across the United States. The average high school dropout salary is approximately 50% less than the salary of a high school graduate. The social factors are another reason the dropout rate needs to be a high priority for every district in the nation. High school dropouts have a higher probability to be incarcerated, are more likely to be on some type of state or federal assistance program, and have a shorter life span than students that have graduated school with a diploma. The opportunities for dropouts are becoming more and more limited. States across the nation are attempting to help these at-risk children by determining why students are dropping out of school in their district. The Piedmont District in North Carolina has created a student dropout survey to aid the district in determining the causal factors for students dropping out of school. The district utilizes their at-risk funds to support their alternative programs. The district board of education passed the Differentiated Diploma program to specifically target students that were dropping out of school due to life changing circumstances. The purpose of this study is to focus on why students are dropping out of school in the Piedmont District in North Carolina and whether their Differentiated Diploma program has helped to decrease their dropout rate since its implementation in 2007. The findings from this research will help inform district leaders, principals, and alternative school staff why students are dropping out of school and if the Differentiated Diploma program is helping decrease the district dropout rate. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]