Education is essential for competitiveness in the national and global job market and a high school diploma is a crucial step toward attending college and establishing a rewarding career. Nevertheless, too many students leave high school before graduating. Students may conclude that entering the workforce sooner, or staying home to help with a family, would be more beneficial than persisting until graduation. Others grow weary of experiencing repeated failure at school or do not feel welcome there. A constellation of factors contribute to higher rates of dropout among Latino and African American youth.