This paper deals with youth dropping out from education system, which poses a major social risk. Dropout of young people from the education system is recognized as a significant problem in the European context, but in the Croatian context this problem is not sufficiently researched. The issue of young people who have dropped out of the education system is a very complex one because of various factors that can affect it. These factors can be related to the individual, his immediate environment, family, peers, school system and the wider social environment. The consequences of dropping out from the education system may be different, including economicones, such as temporary employment, unemployment and low economic incomes, personal ones, such as lowself-esteem, family problems and social consequences, such as antisocial behaviour and social exclusion. It is important to recognize this problem, to develop and invest in youth education and to provide different social policy measures to prevent and reduce the risk of dropping out of students from the education system.