Manhattan Beach Unified Dropout Rate Continues Downward Trend

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA - The dropout rate among Manhattan Beach Unified School District students in the high school class of 2014-15 continued a downward trend, while the graduation rate moved upward, according to figures released.

The dropout rate among MBUSD students who began ninth grade together in 2011-12 was 4.9 percent, down from from 5.1 percent for the class of 2013-14, according to the state Department of Education.

The graduation rate was one of the highest in the state.

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

A total of 82.3 percent of the state's students who started high school in 2011-12 graduated with their class in 2015, up 1.3 percentage points from the previous year, according to the state.

"This is encouraging news any way you look at it, especially since the increase is occurring as we are introducing much more rigorous academic standards," Torlakson said. "Statewide, our students are benefiting from the additional revenues flowing into our schools. We are bringing back relevant and engaging classes in science, civics, arts and Career Technical Education that were slashed during the Great Recession.

"I am also pleased to see the first signs of the narrowing of the pernicious and persistent achievement gap. But a lot of work remains, and our schools still need additional and stable resources."

The report also showed a statewide lowering of the dropout rate. Of the students who started high school in 2011-12, 10.7 percent dropped out, down from 11.5 percent the previous year.

--City News Service contributed to this report, photo via Shutterstock