PV Schools' Graduation Rate Holds Steady

The high school graduation rate in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District for the 2011-2012 school year stayed relatively steady compared to the previous year, according to figures released Tuesday by the California Department of Education.

The 2011-2012 graduation rate of 98.1 percent was down slightly from the 2010-2011 rate of 98.7 percent. The dropout rate increased from 0.2 percent in 2010-2011 to 0.5 percent in 2011-2012, according to the data.

The graduation rates for Palos Verdes Peninsula and Palos Verdes high schools were both 98.4 percent, while the graduation rate at Rancho Del Mar High School—the district's continuation school—was 95.4 percent. The dropout rates were 0.2 percent at Palos Verdes Peninsula High school, 0.3 percent at Palos Verdes High School and 4.7 percent at Rancho Del Mar High School.

The graduation and dropout rates were for students who entered the ninth grade in 2008-09. Those who didn't graduate with their class or leave school altogether either remained enrolled, completed special education programs or passed the General Educational Development (GED) test.

Countywide, the high school graduation rate for the 2011-12 school year was 74.7 percent, with a dropout rate of 14.9 percent, according to the state. The graduation rate was up from 73.7 percent from the previous year, while the dropout rate dipped from 16.7 percent.

The upticks reflected statewide gains. According to the CDE, 78.5 percent of Californians graduated with their class last year, up 1.4 percent from the previous year.

"There are great things happening in California's schools every day, and the upward climb of our graduation rate bears that out," according to Tom Torlakson, the state superintendent of public instruction. "While I am glad to announce that we are moving in the right direction, the fact remains that we must keep moving to ensure that every California student graduates ready to succeed in the world they will find outside our classrooms."

The statewide dropout rate declined 1.5 percent to 13.2 percent.

—City News Service contributed to this report.