Our Vision: All students graduate and are prepared for a successful life

Graduation data released by the Oregon Department of Education on Friday, January 27, 2012 shows Salem-Keizer Public Schools is making progress toward the vision. Salem-Keizer’s graduation rate for the 2010-11 school year was 69.65 percent, which beat the state average of 67 percent. The increase is also 3.97 percent higher than last year’s graduation rate.

The state compares graduation rates across all high schools in four-year cohort groups. A cohort graduation rate reports on the completion of a specific group of students who entered high school together in the ninth grade. The cohort graduation rate does not reflect the number of students who earn modified diplomas, certificates of attainment or GEDs. The state’s target rate is 65 percent, and it will increase to 67 percent in 2011-12.

Four-year cohort graduation rate for Salem-Keizer Public Schools.

Six of eight high school programs in Salem-Keizer increased the graduation rate in 2010-11. In 2009-10, seven of eight programs saw increases.

Roberts and Early College high schools are alternative programs that focus on serving students most at risk of dropping out. Typically, students enrolled in these programs have left a traditional high school and are more likely to graduate in a different setting.

Salem-Keizer is also making progress in reducing dropouts. The dropout rate decreased almost 3.5 percent over the last four years, and remained essentially the same in 2010-11. The dropout rate includes students who were enrolled the prior year but did not enroll in the current year, those who leave during the current year, and those who did not graduate the previous year. Students can be counted as a dropout more than once. For example, a student may re-enroll after dropping out, then dropout again in a different year. The dropout rate is not the inverse of the graduation rate.

The district’s dropout rate decreased markedly from 2008-09 to 2009-10, and has stayed nearly the same.

Of the total 458 dropouts in Salem-Keizer in 2010-11, 37 are currently re-enrolled, two have earned regular diplomas, 11 have earned GEDs and one has earned a certificate of attainment.

How do you see Salem-Keizer Public Schools “Living the Vision”? Send your thoughts, observations and insights to Karma Krause in Community Relations & Communications at krause_karma@salkeiz.k12.or.us. Your idea just might turn into a future story!