Graduation Rate at Santa Monica-Malibu Unified Drops Slightly

SANTA MONICA, CA - The dropout rate among Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District students in the high school class of 2014-15 continued the state's downward trend, according to figures released.

The dropout rate among SMMUSD students who began ninth grade together in 2011-12 was 5.3 percent, down from from 5.2 percent for the class of 2013-14, according to the state Department of Education.

The graduation rate for students in the class of 2014-15 was 91.7 percent, down from 92.4 percent from the previous year, according to the state. The district still has one the highest graduation rate in the state.

The graduation rate at Malibu High School was 94.7 percent, down from 96.4 last year.

At Santa Monica High School the rate was 95 percent, down from 95.4 percent.

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