The dropout rate in Denver Public Schools continues to fall.

For 2000-2001, the rate stood at 4.2 percent - down from 5.3 percent in 1999-2000 and 7.4 percent in 1998-1999.

The dropout rate also improved significantly for Hispanic students, who represent more than half of the district's 72,000 students. In 2000-2001, according to the district's Department of Planning and Research, the dropout rate for Hispanics declined from 6.9 percent (in 1999-2000) to 4.8 percent last year.

"We are encouraged by the continuing improvement in these numbers," said Superintendent Jerry Wartgow. "We are pleased that more students are staying in school and making the effort to graduate. We need to keep this trend going in the right direction and we need to make sure that more students earn a diploma."

The district's graduation rate is up - from 62.9 percent in 1999-2000 to 64.5 percent in 2000-2001. More American Indian, Asian, and white students graduated in 2000-2001 than the year before.

However, the graduation rate for Hispanic students dropped from 55 percent (1999-2000) to 54.6 percent (2000-2001). The graduation rate for African-American students dropped from 63 percent (1999-2000) to 62.6 percent (2000-2001).

The district's overall completer rate, which reflects the number of district students who receive a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), dipped from 72.6 percent to 69.9 percent over the same period.

Denver Public Schools has a number of programs designed to provide students with options outside the regular high school programs. Those include the alternative high school (GED) program, Florence Crittenton (for pregnant teenagers and teenager mothers), Emily Griffith Opportunity School's Second Chance program, the Contemporary Learning Academy, and night school.