Delta County outpaces state graduation rates

Statewide gains in the "on-time graduation rate" are being mirrored in Delta County, where 83.9 percent of the Class of 2012 graduated within four years of transitioning from the eighth grade.

Data released by the Colorado Department of Education shows the statewide on-time graduation rate for the Class of 2012 increased 1.5 percentage points to 75.4 percent as compared to last year.

Last year, the on-time graduation rate in Delta County was 82.6 percent.

The state also tracks the "completion rate" for students who take more than four years to earn a diploma or GED certification. Completion rates are higher than on-time graduation rates, because students can take five or even six years to complete their high school education. In 2010, for example, 84.2 percent of students graduated on-time. The six-year completion rate is 88.2 percent.

"Overall we're very pleased with our graduation rate," said assistant superintendent Kurt Clay, who pointed to an increase in graduation rates for minorities as well. The on-time graduation rate for ELL students in Delta County was 76.6 percent, compared to 62.5 percent for the state's Hispanic students. While graduation rates for American Indians, Asian, Hispanic and black students are on the rise, they fall short of the 82.1 percent graduation rate for white students. Statewide, more females graduate than males.

A total of 120 (65.6 percent) Colorado school districts achieved a four-year on-time graduation rate at or above the state's expectation of at least 80 percent.

Clay says the district's small size may be an advantage when it comes to keeping kids on track for graduation. There are more opportunities to interact with kids, to build relationships with them and their families.

The Colorado Department of Education report also detailed dropout rates, which have decreased for six consecutive years. The 2011-2012 dropout rate was 2.9 percent for Colorado and 1.8 percent for Delta County. Compared to the 2005-06 school year, when the dropout rate was 4.5 percent, the state generated 5,775 fewer dropouts in 2011-12.

The dropout rate reflects the percentage of all students enrolled in grades seven through 12 who leave school without transferring to another educational environment during a single school year. It is calculated by dividing the number of dropouts by total enrollment.

Individual district, school and statewide data are available at http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdereval/gradcurrent.htm.

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