America's standard of living and international competitiveness will be strengthened if its high schools are improved. Research indicates that about 75 percent of America's state prison inmates, almost 59 percent of federal inmates, and 69 percent of jail inmates did not complete high school. Additionally, the number of prison inmates without a high school diploma has increased over time. Reforming the nation's high schools could potentially increase the number of graduates and, as a result, significantly reduce the nation's crime-related costs and add billions of dollars to the economy through the additional wages they would earn. Increasing the graduation rate and college matriculation of male students by only 5 percent could lead to combined savings and revenue of almost $8 billion each year. To achieve those savings and that additional revenue, the nation's schools--especially its high schools--must change for the better. Policies must be put into place at the national, state, and local levels that will support effective reforms and innovative practices. Interventions that bring struggling students up to grade level and experiences that bring real-world relevance into classrooms are critical, as are school environments that support excellence in teaching and learning. (Contains 1 endnote.)