Culver City Unified Graduation Rate Drops Slightly

CULVER CITY, CA -- The dropout rate among Culver City Unified School District students in the high school class of 2015-16 rose from the previous year, coupled with a downward tick in the graduation rate, according to figures released Tuesday by the state Department of Education.

The dropout rate for CCUSD students who started high school in 2012-13 was 5.5 percent, up from 4.3 percent for the class of 2014-15. The graduation rate dropped slightly from the previous year's class at 93.7 percent compared to 95.4 percent.

"Culver City Unified is committed to college access and career success for all of its students. High School graduation is a byproduct of this vision," Superintendent Joshua Arnold told Patch. "As year-to-year graduation rates fluctuate by a percent or two based on various contexts, we focus on increasing our A-G completion rate for UC and Cal State schools, CTE Pathway culmination, and college and career preparation by way of increased access to Honors and AP courses. By every metric, Culver City students are thriving."

The Los Angeles county, meanwhile, saw the opposite trends, with the 2015-16 dropout rate at 10.6, down from 12.5 the previous year. The graduation rate was 81.3 percent, up from the previous year's 78.7 percent.

In Orange County, the graduation rate was 90.8 percent, up slightly from 90 percent the previous year. The dropout rate was 5.4 percent, down from 5.7 percent the previous year.

Statewide, the graduation rate climbed for the seventh year in a row, according to state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson.

A total of 83.2 percent of the state's students who started high school in 2012-13 graduated with their class in 2016, up 0.9 percentage points from the previous year, according to the state.

"This is great news for our students and families," Torlakson said. "Graduation rates have gone up seven years in a row, reflecting renewed optimism and increased investments in our schools that have helped reduce class sizes; bring back classes in music, theater, art, dance and science; and expand career technical education programs that engage our students with hands-on, minds-on learning."

The report also showed a statewide lowering of the dropout rate. Of the students who started high school in 2012-13, 9.8 percent dropped out, down from 10.7 percent the previous year.

-- City News Service contributed to this report. Photo via Shutterstock