RUHS Dropout Rate Well Below State's

's class of 2010 had a 3.2 percent dropout rate over four years—much lower than the Los Angeles County rate of 20.3 percent and the statewide figure of 18.2 percent, according to figures released Thursday by the California Department of Education.

District-wide, the dropout rate for high school students was 4.9 percent. These students include those enrolled at Redondo Beach Learning Academy and .

City News Service reported that the dropout figures come from a new methodology that followed students as they enrolled as freshmen, dropped out, transferred, occasionally returned and/or graduated.

The students who transferred or dropped out and returned couldn't be accounted for with the old system, according to the Department of Education. Because this year's numbers came from a different methodology, they can't be compared to previous years.

Of the 679 students enrolled as freshman in during the 2006-2007 school year, 623 graduated in 2010—a 91.8 graduation rate. About 3.4 percent of students were still enrolled when the data was analyzed.

City News Service contributed to this report.