(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – Data from the 2004-05 school year show that Kentucky's graduation rate among high school seniors increased by more than a point since the 2003-04 school year -- from 81.29 percent to 82.84 percent.
Kentucky began reporting graduation rate data with the 2000-01 school year to comply with requirements of the federal No Child Left
Behind (NCLB) Act. Because NCLB requires that graduation rates not include students who received certificates of completion and those who took
longer than four years to graduate, a more rigid formula to determine the rates was adopted by the Kentucky Board of Education in 2002. The 2001
and 2002 rates include students who received certificates of completion and those who took longer than four years to graduate. Rates collected
after those years include only those students who finished high school within four years and those students with Individual Education Plans (IEP)
that allow more than four years to graduate.
The overall high school dropout rate rose slightly, from 3.35 percent in 2004 to 3.49 percent in 2005. In grades 9-12, 359 more students dropped out in 2005 than in 2004. The highest dropout rates are found in the 12th grade, with 4.11 percent of students dropping out.
The school retention rate -- the percentage of students held back a grade -- increased slightly, as did the school attendance and percentage of students making a successful transition to adult life rates.
COMPARISONS OF NON-ACADEMIC DATA - STATEWIDE RATES
Attendance
2000-01 94.15%
2001-02 94.43%
2002-03 94.31%
2003-04 94.26%
2004-05 94.31%
Dropout (grades 9-12)
2000-01 4.72%
2001-02 3.93%
2002-03 3.34%
2003-04 3.35%
2004-05 3.49%
Graduation
2000-01 79.72%
2001-02 80.83%
2002-03 79.15%
2003-04 81.29%
2004-05 82.84%
Retention
2000-01 3.67%
2001-02 3.55%
2002-03 3.38%
2003-04 3.27%
2004-05 3.30%
Successful Transition
2000-01 95.11%
2001-02 95.67%
2002-03 96.03%
2003-04 96.00%
2004-05 96.13%
Today's release of nonacademic data is one component of the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS). The other two components -- the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS) and Kentucky Core Content Test (KCCT) results -- will be released in early fall. Reading and mathematics information from the KCCT will be released in August to comply with NCLB mandates.
"While the increase in dropouts is slight, I'm very concerned about it," said Kentucky Education Commissioner Gene Wilhoit. "For the first time since 2002, at least one high school has a double-digit dropout rate. That's discouraging, and we should not rest as long as one student fails to complete high school. When we do not meet the needs of our high school students, many of them see no option other than dropping out. These figures should lead to some tough introspection at our high schools.
"On the other hand, we know of some outstanding dropout prevention programs in Kentucky that other schools could adopt. Early intervention, attention to individual students' needs and a school culture that is student-centered are effective ways to curb dropouts," Wilhoit said.
"Earlier this year, the Kentucky Board of Education approved some changes to the high school graduation requirements that are directly tied to our high school restructuring initiative and reflected the board's desire to see more rigor and relevance in high school courses. That's a key to improving the high school experience – ensuring that students are engaged in meaningful learning experiences so that dropping out is not their first choice.
"We've conducted a number of high school summits across the state, and the input we got from those was eye-opening. The students at the summits told us that they want to be challenged; they want greater responsibility for their own learning; and they want a wide range of opportunities. Now, it's up to us to ensure that our high schools are up to the task of providing high-quality learning."
HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RATES BY RACE AND GENDER
2000
MALE 6.04%
FEMALE 4.11%
WHITE 4.84%
AFRICAN AMERICAN 7.81%
HISPANIC 6.65%
ASIAN 2.29%
AMERICAN INDIAN 3.23%
OTHER 3.07%
2001
MALE 5.67%
FEMALE 3.73%
WHITE 4.50%
AFRICAN AMERICAN 6.83%
HISPANIC 7.24%
ASIAN 3.26%
AMERICAN INDIAN 5.86%
OTHER 2.98%
2002
MALE 4.63%
FEMALE 3.20%
WHITE 3.78%
AFRICAN AMERICAN 5.52%
HISPANIC 5.96%
ASIAN 2.09%
AMERICAN INDIAN 1.64%
OTHER 2.72%
2003
MALE 3.91%
FEMALE 2.75%
WHITE 3.23%
AFRICAN AMERICAN 4.45%
HISPANIC 4.65%
ASIAN 1.80%
AMERICAN INDIAN 2.08%
OTHER 2.29%
2004
MALE 3.91%
FEMALE 2.77%
WHITE 3.22%
AFRICAN AMERICAN 4.56%
HISPANIC 4.77%
ASIAN 1.73%
AMERICAN INDIAN 5.32%
OTHER 2.50%
2005
MALE 4.09%
FEMALE 2.87%
WHITE 3.21%
AFRICAN AMERICAN 5.92%
HISPANIC 5.24%
ASIAN 1.39%
AMERICAN INDIAN 2.81%
OTHER 3.38%
Non-academic data is comprised of dropout, graduation, retention, attendance and successful transition to adult life rates. With the exception of graduation rates, which are required under the federal NCLB Act, each rate contributes a specific percentage to a school's overall accountability index.
See complete details on district and school nonacademic data by visiting the Kentucky Department of Education's Web site at http://www.education.ky.gov and clicking on the link under "Headlines."
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