Oregon Dropout Rates Decline

According to the report, 868 students dropped out of school from the Salem-Keizer School District.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - The Oregon Department of Education announced on Tuesday, that Oregon’s statewide dropout rate for the 2005-06 school year was 4.1%, down from last year’s 4.2%.

The 4.1% dropout rate is the lowest rate the state has reported since statewide reporting began in 1991.

Dropout rates for white students decreased slightly, while the dropout rates for Asian, African American, Hispanic, and Native American students showed increases.

Oregon defines a dropout as a student in grades 9-12 who withdraws from school without receiving a high school diploma, GED, modified diploma, or transferring to another school.

“While the dropout rate is headed in the right direction, we can’t be satisfied as a state until Oregon’s dropout rate hits zero, and the graduation rate is 100%,” Castillo said “It is clear from today’s report that we need to focus our efforts on reducing dropout rates and increasing graduation rates for poor and minority students. Graduating from high school is fundamental to success in the workforce or in college.”

Dropout Rates 2005-06

• Total 4.1% (-0.1%)
• White 3.3% (-0.2%)
• Asian 2.7% (+.5%)
• African American 6.4% (+.4%)
• Hispanic 8.4% (+.3%)
• Native American 6.6% (+1.0%)

“Historically, Oregon’s dropout rate has fluctuated with ups and downs in the economy. As the economy improved and the unemployment rate went down, the dropout rate went up,” Castillo said.

“The good news in today’s report is that it appears that overall rates have remained low even as Oregon’s economy has improved. That means Oregon is making progress in the fight to help students stay in high school, rather than leave school for employment.”

Even with the slight increases in dropout rates for minority students, they continue to be significantly lower than the high dropout rates of the mid-1990’s.

The Hispanic rate in 1994-95 was 17.9%. The African American rate in 1995-96 was 13.0%. The Native American rate in 1998-99 was 11.2%.

The most frequently cited reasons for leaving school were “too far behind in credits to catch up,” “lack of parental support for education,” and “working more than 15 hours per week.”

These reasons have been consistent during the last eight years, suggesting that these are significant factors that affect a student’s ability to stay in school.

The 2005-06 graduation rate remained at 81.7%, the same as it was in 2004-05. The graduation rate for white students rose slightly, while graduation rates for the other ethnicities all decreased.

Graduation Rates 2005-06

• Total 81.7% (same as in 2004-05)
• White 85.2% (+0.1%)
• Asian 88.3% (-2.0%)
• African American 69.3% (-.1%)
• Hispanic 63.6% (-.3%)
• Native American 68.6% (-4.1%)