The Hermiston School District’s graduation rate exceeds the state average, according to new data released by the Oregon Department of Education.
The same report, released Jan. 31, also shows the district’s dropout rate is below the state average.
The graduation data looks at the students who entered high school as ninth graders in 2008-09 and then graduated with a regular high school diploma within four years. The state holds a 68.4 percent four-year graduation rate for the 2008-09 class, and Hermiston came in at 68.6 percent, up 4 percent from the previous year.
The results are further broken down by subgroups, which show the district exceeded the state by 8 percent for its Caucasian students and surpassed the state in “economically disadvantaged” students graduating, by 8 percent. The district’s graduation rate among Hispanic students was 4 percent below the state average.
The graduation rate is calculated by taking the number of students in the group who graduated with a regular diploma within four years and dividing that by the total number of students who entered high school four years prior, in this case 2008-09. The figure is adjusted for students who move into or out of the system. Because some students need more than four years to complete graduation requirements, the Oregon Department of Education also calculates five-year graduation and completion rates.
HSD’s five year completer rate, which includes students earning a GED, modified diploma, or other certificate, was 81.1 for the 2007-08 group. The state rate was 80.5 for this group of students.
The state report indicated Hermiston School District has a 2.6 percent dropout rate, compared to the state’s 3.4 percent.
“We are pleased to see the improvement in our graduation cohort rate,” said Hermiston High School Principal Jocelyn Jones. “Our continued efforts toward meeting our building and district strategic plan goals are no doubt contributing to this improvement.”
