Lois Weis is Professor of Sociology of Education and Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Education at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Eleanor Farrar is Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Organization, Administration and Policy at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Hugh G. Petrie is Dean of the Graduate School of Education at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

The authors examine the major groups within the dropout population, the myriad of factors within schools that lead to dropping out, and the larger social and economic context within which dropping out occurs. The resulting synthesis of knowledge and perspectives provided here will enhance our understanding of an important topic that has, to this time, been given too little attention.