The high school dropout problem is a crisis for the United States, in part because it impacts not only individuals and their education, but also because the economic and social costs are so dramatic. This fact sheet highlights the problem of dropout prevention facing America's high schools today. It provides information on the students most likely to drop out (including race/ethnicity/socioeconomic status), and examines the impact of dropouts on crime, the economy, personal incomes, and employment. (Contains 25 endnotes.) [This publication was produced by the National High School Center.]