zach -
Back in the day kids were allowed to drop out of school and try to make their way in the world without benefit of a HS diploma. Some, who were especially skilled with their hands, made it. Others, who had no skills besides being either the class clown, a punk (really olde tyme term for a juvenile delinquent), or the terminally stupid (not mentally challenged but just plain dumb with no hope of improving) either found jobs in the lower echelons of food service or other similar sectors of the work world.
Nowadays there are too many barriers to kids trying to make it on their own, although some areas offer opportunities in the unregistered pharmaceuticals distribution and delivery and personal property redistribution trades. Some school districts try to operate "alternative" school programs for the kids who otherwise are disruptive or drain too many resources in the traditional setting, but as the economy continues to spiral downwards more and more barriers are erected to keep those kids out of the labor market. Heck, even the unions are starting to change the rules about getting into apprenticeship programs. And when was the last time you saw an ad on TV for the Job Corps?
Since the beginning of the 20th century the plan has been to keep children out of the labor market as long as possible. Some time after WWII the plan was enlarged to include political indoctrination. The big "you need a college degree to succeed" lie was and continues to be a part of that plan.
How do you plan to deal with the kids that cannot be maintained on the reservation?
stay safe.