Background: The graduation numbers for Black males are dismal, chilling, and undeniably pathetic. The nation graduates only 47% of Black males who enter the 9th grade. The infusion of federal dollars and philanthropic support will not stop the trajectory of Black males who drop out of school. Black males face an upheaval educational battle; their graduation statistics are sobering across America. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess why Black males drop out of school and if they are unemployed. Setting: The research took place in rural North Carolina. Study Sample: 15 Black males who dropped out of school, aged 18-55. Intervention: Participants took part in-depth interviews. Data Collection and Analysis: A qualitative design was best suited for this study. In-depth interviews captured the data. Snowball sampling is a non-probability strategy used in this study. Open-coding and axial coding were used in the data analysis. Findings: Twenty-six percent of the participants dropped out of school because of academic factors such as school work being too hard and not liking the teacher. However, 73% of the Black males from the study dropped out of school because of non-academic factors such as medical needs, peer pressure, lost of focus, home problems, and hanging with friends, which were the common themes that emerged from the data analysis. Conclusion: Having rigorous academic standards and a relevant curriculum without building strong social and/or cultural opportunities will net the same results, deplorable graduating numbers for Black males. It is more than just academics.