This study of the "flow-through" of students through Cleveland (Ohio) Public School buildings between 1985 and 1989 followed four cohorts of students as they progressed through primary, upper elementary, intermediate, and high school buildings. At each level, the characteristics of "stable" students, who remained in the same building for the expected amount of time, were compared with those who transferred to other schools in the district and with those who withdrew from the district. The following key findings are reported: (1) while most elementary school students were stable, less than one in five high school students progressed through their four grades in 4 years; (2) nearly one-half of the high school students withdrew and one-fourth simply dropped out; (3) the majority of dropouts were overage; (4) nearly one-third of all high school students transferred; (5) over three-fourths of all stable students passed to the next grade each year; (6) compared to students who transferred and withdrew, fewer stable students were overage, more were average or above in reading comprehension, and more had an attendance rate of 90 percent or higher; (7) over two-thirds of the stable secondary school students and less than one-half of those who withdrew were black; and (8) many more of the stable students received subsidized lunches and lived with two parents than those who withdrew. Statistical data are presented in ten tables and four graphs. (FMW)