This paper examines available information on early identification of students at risk of prematurely dropping out of school. Many factors such as drug use, lowered educational achievement, delinquency, and unemployment appear to be consequences of dropping out, yet cause and effect is often difficult to define. A variety of school related, personal, and familial factors have nevertheless been identified as predictors of dropping out; these include such factors as low perceived school relevance, poor grades, misbehavior, friends dropping out, and lack of parental monitoring. Development of an effective profile for early identification of at-risk students may involve the incorporation of the strengths of several approaches. Needs assessment methods, retrospective analysis of local data to determine historical trends, potential dropout identification instruments, teacher rating and referral methods, and tracking students as they meet critical at-risk criteria are all ways to identify potential dropouts. The level and nature of a student's risk of premature exit from school should be viewed within the context of the student's particular school, family, and personal characteristics. (BHK)