Too many students do not learn algebra and therefore do not graduate from high school. This basic qualitative study conducted in a large suburban public school district explored the perspectives of high school seniors who were at least 18 years old and at risk for not graduating from high school because they had not demonstrated an adequate learning of algebra. Participants engaged in 1-to-1 semistructured interviews. Algebra 1 performance data were collected via final grades and end-of-course test scores and reports. Additionally, participants completed the Attitudes toward Math Inventory and these results provided data on their perspectives toward math. Responses to the Attitudes toward Math Inventory revealed that the highest average for all participants was in their value for learning math. The interviews revealed that the value that the participants placed on learning math, in this case Algebra 1, was relevant to the value that they placed on graduating from high school and not on learning higher levels of math. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]