Despite higher dropout rates at other high schools in Tucson, Rincon and Amphitheater were chosen because of their initial support for the pilot program and still-high dropout rates, said Gina Reyes, administrator for Youth Education Security.

The state Department of Education reports that about 30 percent of Arizona high-school students didn't graduate in 2005-06.

Barsky said he came up with the idea after seeing stories about a similar program in England.

That program, the government-funded Education Maintenance Allowance, has been successful in curbing dropout rates, Barsky said.

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said that if incentive-based retention programs work in other countries, they likely could work in Tucson as well.

"It's always heartening to have philanthropists help us and our kids out, especially because we can't always get everything we need from the Legislature," he said. "When I heard it worked in Great Britain, I was excited and I'm hoping it can work out for our schools in Tucson."

The success of the program will be gauged through a study conducted by the University of Arizona's College of Education, which will measure the graduation rates of project participants and a control group of other students from the same socioeconomic backgrounds, Barsky said.