More than a million U.S. high school students – about 1.2 million to be exact -- chose dropping out over graduation in 2004, and 17 of the nation’s largest cities graduate less than 50 percent of their pupils. What can you do?

“Give a Boost”

A boost is a message of encouragement that can be sent through MySpace, Facebook, YouTube or via text or email. Boostup.org collects each message and sends them to you or your friends profile. Go to Boostup.org to send one today.

“Lunch with a Leader”

Want a chance to chat with one of your hero? Lunch With A Leader® gives you the chance to bid on a personal experience with leaders from every walk of life. The best part is – it’s all to benefit the local efforts of Communities In Schools®, the nation’s leading dropout prevention network. To view all of the leaders on eBAY, click here.

“Film Your Issue”

Feel like getting creative? Make a short film about dropouts in your community and while you're a it, you get a chance to win a $5000 scholarship through Strong American Schools. Go to "Film Your Issue" for all the rules and info.

“Email Fact Blast”

Send an email fact blast to family and friends with ED in '08, a campaign to stop dropouts. Get involved by spreading the facts!

“Online Petition”

You can sign an online petition to demand that the presidential candidates come up with a plan to address teen drop outs as a social and economic problem. Go here to sign and show your support!

“Dream Career”

Be passionate about the future! Know someone who is thinking about giving up on school? Let them know what doors to their dreams can slam shut without education. Take them to something they are interested in, like an Art Club, sports event, or other hobby and show them how they can have a fun career if they make education a top priority. If they are at a loss, they can take a career assessment test.

“Shop Online For Your School”

Shopping online is easy and fun, so why not help your school at the same time? You can shop at all your fave online stores through Benevolink to rack up points, then give them as charity dollars to your school, or a cause that helps with education. You get to choose what to buy and where your points go, all at no extra cost! Sign up at Benevolink.

Don't be a statistic day

Organize a "Don't be a statistic day" at your school. Dropout statistics are just a bunch of numbers, but behind the statistics are the stories of many students struggling to keep up with school and life. Here's a way to help people understand the statistics and leave a lasting impression they can see and feel. Sometimes you just have to see it to believe it.

Become a mentor

Being a mentor is about caring and giving support to your mentee. This can be done through a variety of activities ranging from playing sports to doing chores together. What matters most is that there is someone to confide in and look up to, not the activities themselves. As a result, the mentees develop better relationships, are more confident in school and more likely avoid harmful substances – each small changes that have proven to create a lasting impact on their lives.

Write an article

Write an article on high school dropouts for your school or town paper. There’s power in the written word so spread the news on the issue! And we've got tips for how to write a powerful article so do your thang! 

Go for the jugular

Visit Your Student Council or School Board to see what your school is currently doing to help those in danger of dropping out and those who have already dropped out, then see if you can provide input on how to do even more for them. There's no better way to be heard! This is a great way to become active and influence the processes that keep schools like yours running smoothly.