The problem addressed in this study was high school students delaying their entrance into a General Education Development (GED) program after dropping out of high school in the United States. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to describe high school dropouts' perceptions of what circumstances delay their enrollment into a GED program. Sorokin's social mobility theory was the theoretical framework used in this study to demonstrate and establish the concept that people fluctuate in income distribution based upon their educational attainment, occupational status, or in some cases, health progression. A descriptive qualitative design has been chosen to collect information that may contribute to the gap between students dropping out of high school and entering a GED Program. An open-ended 44-item questionnaire was chosen for this research because it allows participants to include more detailed information by answering questions in their own words, for example, their feelings, attitudes, emotions, and understanding of the subject. The study's population consisted of 20 students at least 18 years of age or older, who drop out of high school, male, and female, from diverse backgrounds, attending a GED program in the United States. The finding revealed that many students expressed they need support and felt they did not have the necessary support to continue school. The implications provided recommendations for practice that may help policymakers, stakeholders, and educational leaders develop ideas on closing the gap to high school dropouts. The recommendation for practice advised stakeholders, educators, and policymakers to engage in productive conversations to make a change and produce answers that will close the educational gap and put into practice some tangible exercises to make effective changes in the school system. [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://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]