Graduation Rate Increases At Newark Memorial

The 2012 graduation rate in the Newark Unified School District was more than 10 percent higher than the state average.

Figures released Tuesday by the state superintendent's office show that overall the district's graduation rate last year was 89.3 percent, up more than a percent from the previous year and above the state average of 78.5 percent.

The dropout rate for the district was listed as 7 percent -- down from 8.6 percent in 2011 and below this year's 13.2 percent statewide average.

The district figures include continuation schools.

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.

Newark Memorial's graduation rate was 92.4 percent last year, about 1 percent higher than the previous school year.

The graduation rate at Crossroads High, an alternative school, was 57.1 percent -- down from 75.7 in the 2010-2011 school year. 

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.