The study was based on a sample of 21,706 students; only 20 percent had no risk evident in their lives, while one- quarter of the sample had three or more risk items evident, and 10 percent had five or more risk items operating in their daily lives. Except for a few risk areas, including pregnancy, drug use, and crime, the incidence of risk among children is evident in a uniform way among various age groups. Factor analyses were performed on the collected data regarding the sample; the five factors that emerged included personal pain, academic failure, family tragedy, family socioeconomic situation, and family instability. The authors' ultimate conclusion was that schools are not to blame for the problems of American youth, but rather the breakdown of society in general, including the deterioration of social values, the breakup of the family, and the refusal of policy makers to address pressing social issues including the availability of handguns, alcohol, and drugs, has caused this desperate situation. 111 notes and 6 appendixes