Life is tough icon.  The problem with your argument is that kids in many states have it worse in terms of poverty than in Oregon.  So while poverty is detrimental to kids, it is no explanation as to why Oregon is so bad off in terms of graduation rate - sloppy thinking on your part.   Your attitude of living life to the fullest is representative of why Oregon's dropout rate is so high.  Achievement requires commitment and willingness to forgo living life to the fullest and instead doing boring schoolwork.  Preach maximal fulfillment to kids and many with drop out to have fun and live on the streets.  Who wants to put their nose to the grindstone to achieve if life is to be lived to the fullest.  Some of us believe that life is given to us so that we can achieve and leave something, a mark, that is seen as good.  It drove me to the best schools and a PhD.  I didn't get to have the fun so many others did.  Work, work, and more work.  But is okay because it's not just about me.