Umatilla High School’s graduation rate of 72.34 percent, released by the Oregon Department of Education today, is more than 3 percent higher than the state average.
In 2013-2014, Umatilla awarded 64 diplomas.
Of the 14 students who dropped out of UHS in 2013-2014, just six had been with the district since before they began high school, said Heidi Sipe, superintendent of the Umatilla School District.
All six, Sipe said, experienced various interventions and supports throughout their school careers, and had chronic attendance issues, as well.
All fourteen will continue to receive support for re-enrollment or GED programming.
Sipe said the district continues to focus on getting every student to graduate on time.
“We’re making progress and staff are quick to intervene when kids are moving off-track in regards to graduating on time,” said Sipe.
Though Umatilla’s graduation rate is technically 72.34 percent, Sipe said three students were erroneously calculated into the district’s dropout category. This means the Oregon Department of Education will report Umatilla’s graduation rate as 70.1 percent instead of 72.34 percent.
“The differences between the two rates aren’t huge, but they are significant when – in a school district of our size – nearly every student accounts for an entire percentage point,” Sipe said.
For more detailed graduation rate information, please visit the Oregon Department of Education’s website.
