The adult lives of at-risk students the roles of attainment and engagement in high school--statistical analysis report.

This report examines heterogeneity in young adult outcomes among students at risk for school failure due to low socioeconomic status (SES). It addresses the question: "Among students at risk due to status characteristics, what are the relationships of high school engagement and attainments with post-high school outcomes?" Two sets of outcomes are considered: entry and persistence in postsecondary education, and employment and income as a young adult. The report distinguishes between "status risk factors" such as SES and race/ethnicity and two other sets of risk factors: behavioral risk factors and academic risk factors. Behavioral risk factors are behaviors and attitudes closely related to learning, for example, attendance, paying attention to the teacher, completing coursework, and developing a sense that schooling is important to future life successes. These behaviors and attitudes are referred to as school engagement. "Disengagement" (e.g., not attending class, not completing assignments) can create severe impediments to learning. Appended are: (1) Technical Notes; (2) Standard Errors Tables; (3) Other Statistical Tables; and (4) Variables Used in This Report. (Contains 148 endnotes and 19 tables.).