High School Graduation Rates

Date posted: 06/16/2009

According to the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) website, 'The graduation rate is a cumulative or longitudinal rate which calculates the number of students who actually graduate as a percent of those who were in membership over a four-year period (i.e., from Grades 9-12) and could have graduated with the current graduating class.'

Beginning with the 2005-06 school year, CCR 301-67 changed how the CDE counted students who left school to pursue a GED (General Educational Development) certificate. Prior to 2005-06, students entering a GED program were counted as transfers and did not affect the graduation rate. Starting in 2005-06, GED-bound students remained in the membership base, thereby lowering the graduation rate.

What this chart shows: Overall Graduation Rates in Colorado & Larimer County School Districts, 2003-04 to 2007-08

Data Source: Colorado Department of Education

See data table

What these data tell us:

Larimer County School Districts had higher combined graduation rates than the state average from 2003-04 to 2007-08. In 2005-06 students pursuing a GED certificate were no longer counted as transfer students. Not being able to include these students resulted in a 6.8% decrease in the graduation rate for Poudre School District for the Class of 2006, and smaller decreases in the rates for Park (1.4%) and Thompson (2.1%).

Caution should be used when interpreting some of this information. If the raw numbers are relatively low, which is often the case in Park School District, even slight deviations equate to higher percentage changes in graduation rates.

What this chart shows: Graduation Rates by Instructional Program Type - Larimer County School Districts, 2007-08

Data Source: Colorado Department of Education

See data table

What these data tell us:

In the Class of 2008, the highest graduation rate amongst instructional programs for Poudre and Thompson School Districts, was in the 'Gifted and Talented' program, 69% and 97%, respectively. Park School District had the highest graduation rate (80%) within the 'Homeless' instructional program.

See Additional Information for Instructional Program Service Type definitions.

Additional Information:

'A graduation rate is reported for each graduating class (i.e., the Class of 2008). The rate is calculated by dividing the number of graduates by the membership base. The membership base is derived from the number of students entering ninth grade four years earlier (i.e., during the 2004-2005 year), and adjusted for students who have transferred into or out of the district during the years covering grades 9 through 12 (CDE Graduation Data).'

Instructional Program Service Type definitions*:

Students with Disabilities:  Students who have been formally identified as having physical or health conditions that may have a significant impact on the student's ability to learn and therefore warrant placing the student on an Individual Educational Program (IEP).

Limited English Proficient:  This designation encompasses all students identified as either non-English proficient or limited English proficient. Non-English proficient is defined as a student who speaks a language other than English and does not comprehend, speak, read, or write English. Limited English proficient is defined as a student who comprehends, speaks, reads, or writes some English, but whose predominant comprehension or speech is in a language other than English. Districts must provide language services to all limited English proficient students.

Economically Disadvantaged:  Student qualifies for either the free or reduced lunch program. The Federal National School Lunch Act establishes eligibility for the reduced price lunch program for families with income up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level (in 2005, this amount was $35,798 for a family of four). Families with income up to 130 percent of the federal poverty level qualify for the free lunch program (in 2005 this amount was $25,155 for a family of four).

Migrant:  Students enrolled in a specially designed program for children who are, or whose parent or spouse is a migratory agricultural worker, and who, in the preceding 36 months, in order to obtain, or accompany such parent or spouse in order to obtain, temporary or seasonal employment in agricultural work has moved from one school district to another.

Homeless:  According to the McKinney Act, a 'homeless individual': lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Gifted and Talented:   Students who have been formally identified, using district wide procedures aligned with CDE guidelines, as being endowed with a high degree of exceptionality or potential in mental ability, academics, creativity, or talents (visual, performing, musical arts, or leadership). 

*Definitions taken directly from CDE Graduation Data.

On Compass:

• ACT Scores
• CSAP scores
• Dropout Rates
• Enrollment by Ethnicity
• Enrollment - K-12, Public School
• Enrollment - Public, Home-Based, & Non-Public
• Enrollment - Special Education
• Funding Per Pupil
• Population Race & Ethnicity - Demographics
• Pupil/ Teacher Ratio
• Teachers - Ethnicity & Gender
• Youth Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
• Youth Attitudes Toward Smoking

Outside of Compass:

• Ask Colorado - interactive online librarian service from Colorado libraries.
• Colorado Department of Education - K-12 Standards & Assessments
• Colorado Education and Library Directory
• Park School District
• Poudre School District
• Thompson School District
• United States Department of Education - Help My Child with Academics: a resource for parents and their children's school success.

Standards or Target: N/A

Data Tables:

Overall Graduation Rates - Colorado and Larimer County School Districts

	Colorado	Graduate Base	Park	Graduate Base	Poudre	Graduate Base	Thompson	Graduate Base
2003-04	82.5%	54,273	93.6%	94	86.0%	1,818	89.6%	1,215
2004-05	80.1%	55,629	92.6%	95	87.9%	1,931	90.0%	1,208
2005-06	74.1%	59,972	91.3%	92	81.9%	2,163	88.1%	1,188
2006-07	75.0%	60,847	86.5%	104	81.7%	2,230	81.3%	1,353
2007-08	73.9%	62,611	87.0%	100	81.2%	2,187	77.9%	1,332

See chart

Numbers of Graduates by Instructional Program Type - 2007-08

	Poudre School District		Thompson School District		Park School District
	Grad Base	Number	Grad Base	Number	Grad Base	Number
Students With Disabilities	402	172	132	93	10	7
Limited English Proficient	248	95	29	11	5	3
Economically Disadvantaged	802	299	336	215	20	13
Migrant	27	12	11	3	2	1
Homeless	80	45	32	11	5	4
Gifted and Talented	65	45	121	117	0	0

See chart

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