2008-09 Graduation & Dropout

PSD graduation rate 83.1%; dropout rate 1.7% for 2008-09 school year

Poudre School District students' graduation rate of 83.1% and dropout rate of 1.7% continue to top state averages, according to 2008-09 statistics released in January by the Colorado Department of Education.

PSD’s graduation rate increased to 83.1% for 2008-09 compared to 81.2% for 2007-08, and is well above the statewide graduation rate, which increased to 74.6% in 2008-2009 from 73.9% in 2007-08.

Among ethnic groups in PSD, the graduation rate was 74.1% for American Indian students; 98.1% for Asian students; 72.7% for black students; 67.9% for Hispanic students; and 85.6% for white students.

State graduation rates for ethnic groups include 59.9% for American Indian students; 85.7% for Asian students; 64.3% for black students; 57.8% for Hispanic students; and 82.3% for white students.

Graduation rate formula

The graduation rate formula begins with each school and district’s entering ninth-grade class. This cohort of students is tracked and adjusted for verified transfers in and out of the district through the end of the 12th grade year to determine the final membership base for the graduating class. The graduation rate is calculated by dividing the number of students who receive a diploma by the original membership base.

Dropout rate decreases

After a one-year increase, PSD’s dropout rate decreased from 2.6% for 2007-08 to 1.7% for 2008-09. The statewide dropout rate for 2008-09 was 3.6%, which was down from 3.8% for 2007-08.  PSD’s low dropout rate is attributed to schools’ methods of tracking students who leave the district, as well as strong alternative education and retention programs that help more students reach graduation.

The dropout rate for Hispanic students in PSD continued to improve, declining from 5.2% in 2007-08 to 4.2% in 2008-09, and shows a steady improvement from the number of students dropping out in previous years. 

Dropout rates for other ethnic groups in 2008-09 include: 4.7% for American Indian students; 0.5% for Asian students; 4.1% for black students; and 1.1% for white students.

Secondary programs support students at-risk for dropping out

To keep at-risk students in school and help them graduate, PSD’s secondary programs provide several alternative educational options for students. Those programs include Centennial High School, Poudre Transition Center, Pathway After Hours and General Educational Development (GED) classes at Poudre High School, outside independent study programs, the PSD Online Academy, and the Teen Parent program at Fort Collins High School.

School counselors and administrators connect students with a variety of programs for at-risk students to keep students in school through graduation.

“I would recognize that our schools and school leadership have been working hard to improve our result in this area,” says Manny Ortega, assistant superintendent of secondary schools.  “Graduation and dropout rates are two metrics we systematically monitor as part of our Board Ends and District Goals.  We recognize that we have disparity with our overall dropout and graduation rates within subgroups.  We are continuing to explore ways to improve in this area by closing these gaps.”

PSD keeping track of students who move

PSD has also stepped up its tracking process to better investigate where students go when they leave our schools.

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) requires districts to account for every student who leaves with a withdrawal reason. With the additional tracking efforts, the district is able to account for more students in specific areas, such as students moving out of state and out of the country, rather than coding withdrawals as 'Reason Unknown', which CDE counts as dropouts. 

PSD’s improved tracking process is evidence and confirmation that efforts in student accounting are giving the district a truer picture of dropout statistics.

For more information about PSD’s 2008-09 graduation and dropout rates, contact John Passantino, PSD Assessment Coordinator, at 490-3124.