Despite recent declines in high school dropout rates, thousands of young Canadians continue to leave high school every year without a diploma. Currently, approximately 20% of Canadians aged 20 years and over have never completed high school. Most Canadians recognize the link between educational attainment and quality of life, and know that dropping out of high school can have negative consequences for individuals and society. However, few people may be fully aware of the many costs--both intangible and tangible--associated with dropping out of high school. The intangible costs of not completing high school are numerous. Many high school dropouts experience negative outcomes as a result of their decision to leave school, including diminished social growth, a reduced sense of control over their lives and life circumstances, and less personal satisfaction. The tangible costs are no less numerous: directly or indirectly, dropping out of high school has enormous fiscal implications for government, society, and individual school leavers in terms of expenditures in health, social services and programs, education, employment, criminality, and lower economic productivity. This paper presents examples of strategies employed by jurisdictions across Canada, designed to keep students engaged in their studies until they complete their high school diplomas. (Contains 1 table.)