Press Release

October 27, 1999

For Immediate Release

DPS GRADUATION RATE HOLDS STEADY

The district's graduation rate for the 1998-99 school year was 64.9 percent, unchanged from 1997-98. The total number of graduates was 2,500 for the 1998-99 school year, 92 more than the year before.

The completer rate, which includes graduates as well as students who receive a Certificate of Attendance, a Special Education Certificate or who complete a GED (general equivalency degree) program, increased significantly to 75.2 percent, up from 70.8 percent in 1997-98.

Of the of 227 students enrolled in the Alternative High School, the district's GED program, all but one earned a GED. The completer rate also increased at all 12 DPS high schools and among all ethnic groups except Asian students. Among Asian students, the completer rate was 81.5 percent, down from 85.1 percent in 1997-98. Hispanic students were up to 65.5 percent from 59.5 percent in 1997-98; white students were up to 85.3 percent from 84.2 percent; African-American students were up to 78.8 percent from 71.8 percent; and American Indian students were up to 67.5 percent from 52.2 percent in 1997-98.

The graduation rate improved for Hispanic (to 54.5 percent from 52.2 percent in 1997-98), African-American (to 68.4 percent from 67.9 percent in 1997-98) and American Indian (to 52.5 percent from 47.8 percent in 1997-98) students. For Asian students, the graduation rate was 76.2 percent, down from 83.8 percent in 1997-98. For white students, the rate was 75.5 percent, down from 78.0 percent in 1997-98. Graduation rates were highest at George Washington (88.2 percent); Thomas Jefferson (79.8 percent) and East (79 percent).

The rates are determined with a formula developed by the Colorado Department of Education. The formula looks at each high school's number of graduates and enrollment four years earlier. Adjustments are made for incoming transfers, outgoing transfers, dropouts returning to the district, and dropouts for whom records are requested by other school districts.