RBUSD Graduation Rate Increases

The high school graduation rate in the Redondo Beach Unified School District for the 2011-2012 school year increased slightly compared to the previous year, according to figures released Tuesday by the California Department of Education.

The 2011-2012 graduation rate of 91.4 percent was up slightly from the 2010-2011 rate of 89.3 percent. The dropout rate decreased from 5.2 percent in 2010-2011 to 3.9 percent in 2011-2012, according to the data.

At Redondo Union High School, the 2011-2012 graduation rate was 92.7 percent. The dropout rate was 2.8 percent.

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.