Having auto-shop and wood shop (I won't launch in to the male-enrollment-ness of it) doesn't keep kids engaged in math, history, English. This being the iPad generation, motivated (the operative word - motivated) kids can learn to do oil changes or replace spark plugs if they are so inclined. There are many reasons that kids drop out of school. Teaching dovetail joinery or how to replace muffler bearings is not a panacea to fix graduation rates - IMHO.