The 2001-2002 school year graduation rate for Denver Public Schools students climbed to 67.1 percent, according to data released today by the district’s Department of Planning.

The latest rate is up from 64.5 percent in 2000-2001 and 62.9 percent in 1999-2000.
When all “completers” – those students who also complete a Graduate Equivalency Degree (GED) – are included, the rate is 73.5 percent.

Data also released today showed the district dropout rate dipped to 3.9 percent in 2001-2002 school year, marking the third straight year of progress. In 1998-1999, the dropout rate stood at 7.4 percent.

The dropout rate is a one-year snapshot of students who drop out from grades seven through 12. By comparison, the graduation data tracks one group of students as they enter grade nine and then determines the number and rate of students who graduate – or gain a GED – four years later.

“Both the graduation rate and the dropout rate provide a picture for us of how are students are faring in high school – whether they are seeing the value of a high school diploma, if they are remaining engaged in our curriculum, and if they are being provided with the kinds of learning environments that are stimulating and challenging,” said Superintendent Jerry Wartgow. “While we need to acknowledge the progress made to date, we also all have to realize that we have a long way to go.”

Superintendent Wartgow said the district’s new literacy plan, being implemented this year, provides necessary support for high school students to keep on track with learning. The program’s two-period studio course for middle and high schools is designed to make sure that students are reading on grade level and better equipped to handle the grade-level content and curriculum.

In addition, he said, the elementary literacy program should, over the long term, be preparing students for high school who can read and write on grade level, ready to tackle the subjects being taught.

Two schools cracked the 90 percent graduation rate – John F. Kennedy High School with a 90.6 percent graduation rate and Denver School of the Arts with a 97.4 percent graduation rate.

Among Hispanic students, the total completer rate climbed from 60.5 percent in 2000-2001 to 64.2 percent in 2001-2002. The completer rate increased significantly for African-American students, from 68.6 percent to 77.1 percent. The completer rate for white students rose from 83.3 percent to 83.8 percent and for Asian students from 80.0 percent to 82.7 percent.

Superintendent Wartgow and the district’s four Area Superintendents cited a number of changes and improvements for helping to increase the graduation rate and lowering the dropout rate. Among them:

• Strengthened high school counseling
• More personalized education through small learning communities (Manual High School’s dropout rate dipped from 9.5 percent to 3.6 percent)
• Parent-teacher contracts at some schools – and early notice to parents – about students when they first fall behind
• Ninth- and tenth-grade writing labs
• Close partnership between high schools and the Contemporary Learning Academy to bring students back to grade level
• A strong alternative schools program and GED program