Local officials gathered today to try and attack the school drop-out rates in Bossier Parish.

Goodwill Industries held a press conference to discuss the launch of the new Successful Pathways Program to try and help lower the statistics.

Startling new numbers are out showing the drop-out rates in some Louisiana high schools are above 40%.

And studies by the Bossier Truancy Center show an increasing number of high school drop-outs leads to higher welfare costs and a higher risk of incarceration.