Graduation Rates Increase At Local Schools, Millbrae's Mills High Grad Rate Goes Up

The 2012 graduation rate in the San Mateo Union High School District was higher than the state average and the dropout rate was lower. 

Figures released today by the state superintendent's office show that overall the district's graduation rate last year was 90.3 percent, above the state average of 78.5 percent.

The dropout rate for the district was listed as 6.6 percent. That was down from7.7 percent in 2011 and also below this year's 13.2 percent statewide average.

The district figures include continuation schools and other campuses that are not listed individually in the superintendent's report.

There are also a small percentage of students who are not counted as either graduates or dropouts because they are still in school or passed the GED or are special education students.

The district's five main high schools all had graduation rates above the state average.

Mills High had the second highest graduation rate in the district last year at 96.4 percent.

Capuchino High had the lowest graduation rate in the district with an 81 percent garduation rate (still above the state average) and the highest dropout rate at 17.6 percent.  

Aragon High was the highest in the district at slightly above 98 percent. Burlingame High was at nearly 94 percent and both Hillsdale and San Mateo High were at 90 percent. 

In 2011, the district's graduation rate was 89.6 percent and in 2012 it was 90.3 percent. The dropout rate also went from 7.7 percent in 2011 to 6.6 percent last year. The numbers for the two years, however, are based on different criteria and aren't comparable.

The graduation rate at five of the district's six main high schools were relatively the same from year to year.

However, the graduation rate dropped at Capuchino High 11 percentage points and dropout rate increased by 12 percentage points.

The graduation rate at all the schools was above the state average.

Overall, California's graduation rates rose while dropout rates declined.

The state superintendent's office reported 78.5 percent of students who started high school in 2008-2009 graduated last year. That was up 1.4 percentage points from the year before.

Among African-American students, 65.7 percent graduated with their class in 2012, up 2.9 points from the year before.

Among Hispanic students, 73.2 percent graduated in 2012, up 1.8 points from the year before.

There was a corresponding drop in the state's dropout rate.

The superintendent's office reported 13.2 percent of students who began high school in 2008-2009 dropped out. That was down 1.5 percentage points from the year before.

The dropout rate among African-American students dropped 3.1 points to 22.2 percent. Among Hispanic students, the dropout rate fell 2.1 points to 16.2 percent.

Another 8.3 percent of students were labeled as neither dropouts nor graduates.

State Superintendent Tom Torlakson said while the trend is positive, California schools still need to do more. He said he'd like to see the graduation rate top 80 percent in the near future and then reach 90 percent by 2020.

He commended local school officials for improving education despite budget cuts the past few years and the fact California is 49th in the nation in education funding.

"As I travel up and down the state, I see great things happening in California schools every day," said Torlakson.

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