This report presents national data for 1990 on high school dropout and retention rates. The report uses the Current Population Survey and the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988. The three types of dropout rates discussed are: (1) event rates, (2) status rates, and (3) cohort rates. The report also examines high school completion and graduation rates. Data indicate that national dropout rates have declined over the last decade. The event dropout rate for persons 15 through 24 years old in grades 10 through 12 was 6.2 percent in 1980 and 4.1 percent in 1990. The status dropout rate for persons 16 through 24 was 14.1 percent in 1973 and 12.1 percent in 1990. In addition, recently collected longitudinal data reveal that about 7 percent of the eighth graders enrolled in the spring of 1988 dropped out before the end of their sophomore year in high school. The following results are highlighted: (1) male and female rates are comparable; (2) central city rates are higher than suburban rates; (3) rates for Hispanic Americans are higher than rates for Whites; and (4) status and cohort rates in the South are higher than those in the Northeast and Midwest and are higher for Blacks than for Whites. New data collection efforts by the National Center for Education Statistics that have a bearing on issues of high school dropouts and graduates are briefly discussed in the concluding section. The report includes 15 tables and 11 graphs. Appendix A contains time series and standard error tables, and Appendix B provides technical notes. (JB)