INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ORDINARY SCHOOLS, WHICH WERE FELT TO BE SERIOUSLY DEFICIENT IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF SOME STUDENTS. THIS SCHOOL USES SMALL CLASSES AND INTENSIVE COUNSELING, AND PLACES EMPHASIS ON BASIC SKILLS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERESTS AND MOTIVATION. IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THIS APPROACH WOULD REDUCE TRUANCY, DROP-OUTS, AND DELINQUENCY BY PROVIDING A MORE SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. SPECIFICALLY, THE SCHOOL SOUGHT TO REDUCE ATTRITION OF RECRUITED STUDENTS TO 10 PERCENT, TO KEEP RECIDIVISM ON THE PART OF RECRUITED DELINQUENT YOUTH TO 10 PERCENT, TO PREVENT NON-DELINQUENT YOUTH FROM ENTERING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, TO IMPROVE STUDENT COMPETENCY AND BASIC EDUCATIONAL SKILLS, AND TO ENROLL 65 STUDENTS. THE PROJECT MET OR EXCEEDED ITS GOALS FOR ENROLLMENTS, DROP-OUT RATES, SPECIAL SKILLS PROGRAMS, AND RECIDIVISM OF SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS. PROBLEMS WERE NOTED IN THE AREAS OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE LEVELS, RECORD KEEPING, AND NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEIVING CREDIT FOR BASIC SKILLS COURSES....DMC NEWARK