Two gender-based focus groups were conducted to delve into the perceived supports and barriers that impact on at-risk grade 12 students. The findings suggest that grade 12 female students experience different barriers to graduation than do the male students. The female group members list the following barriers to graduation: stress, low self-esteem, family and relationship issues, and fear of graduation. The male group members list death of significant other, low skill level, the "party" lifestyle, and poor attitude toward school as barriers to graduation. The issues that support their successful graduation are more mutual. Both groups list self-respect, parental support, and friends as an inducement to graduation. Included is a literature review of the at-risk student, an overview of focus group methodology, an extensive reference list, and added appendices. The project concludes with the recommendation to apply this knowledge to a group format intervention to assist and support these students in their graduation year. RATIONALEA sub-group among the at-risk population in the high school setting can be described as chronically at-risk students. These students struggle academically throughout their high school years, often investing 6 -7 years rather than the allotted 5years to obtain the Dogwood diploma.The population that is of concern here is grade 12 students who have been chronically at-risk of dropping out of school but still remain in the system. In their last year, or even in the last semester of their last year, their graduation status remains uncertain.These students appear to have characteristics and behaviours in common. All have exhibited a perseverance to stay in school, all have endured a consistent lack of academic success, and all have jeopardized their graduation in the final months.This project proposes two research questions, introduces available research that pertains to, or relates in some way to the at-risk student, offers an overview of focus group methodology, details a project that interviews two focus groups on the topic of interest, and presents the findings as well as their applications. RESEARCH QUESTIONSWhat issues explain or contribute to an understanding of the grade 12 at-risk all behaviour is purposeful action, perhaps the goal of these students is to delay graduation for reasons that make sense to them . The research questions are:• What qualities/attitudes or support systems underlie the perseverance exhibited by at-risk grade 12 students? 2• What are the perceived barriers or issues that hinder the academic success of at-risk grade 12 students in their graduation year? LITERATURE REVIEWMuch has been written about the at-risk student from varying perspectives.Little has been recorded specifically about the grade 12 student. This section will present an overview of the literature that examines the at-risk student from the points of view of different authors, most of whom discuss the issue in terms of consequences, characteristics of dropouts for identification purposes...