South Gate High Graduation Rate Decreases, South East High Shows Slight Increase

The 2012 graduation rate in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) was lower than the state average, and so was the district's percentage of high school dropouts.

Figures released by the state superintendent's office show that overall the district's graduation rate last year was 66.2 percent, below the state average of 78.5 percent.

The dropout rate for the district, however, was listed as 20.3 percent. That was down from 22.6 percent in 2011 and also above this year's 13.2 percent statewide average.

The district figures include continuation schools and other campuses that are not listed individually in the superintendent's report.There are also a small percentage of students who are not counted as either graduates or dropouts because they are still in school or passed the GED or are special education students.

In South Gate, South East High School recorded a 76.7 percent graduation rate in 2011-2012, slightly up from the 75.3 percent of 2010-2011. 

While South Gate High School registered a graduation rate of 81.4 percent in 2011-2012, which was down from the 88.3 percent of 2010-2011. 

The dropout rate at South East High School stood at 13 percent in 2011-2012, down from the 20.6 that it registered in 2010-2011. 

On the other hand, the dropout rate at South Gate High School stood at 14.6 percent in 2011-2012, up from the 8.6 percent it that it registered in 2010-2011. 

Overall, California's graduation rates rose while dropout rates declined.

The state superintendent's office reported 78.5 percent of students who started high school in 2008-2009 graduated last year. That was up 1.4 percentage points from the year before.

Among African-American students, 65.7 percent graduated with their class in 2012, up 2.9 points from the year before.

Among Hispanic students, 73.2 percent graduated in 2012, up 1.8 points from the year before.

There was a corresponding drop in the state's dropout rate.

The superintendent's office reported 13.2 percent of students who began high school in 2008-2009 dropped out. That was down 1.5 percentage points from the year before.

The dropout rate among African-American students dropped 3.1 points to 22.2 percent. Among Hispanic students, the dropout rate fell 2.1 points to 16.2 percent.

Another 8.3 percent of students were labeled as neither dropouts nor graduates.

State Superintendent Tom Torlakson said while the trend is positive, California schools still need to do more. He said he'd like to see the graduation rate top 80 percent in the near future and then reach 90 percent by 2020.

He commended local school officials for improving education despite budget cuts the past few years and the fact California is 49th in the nation in education funding.

"As I travel up and down the state, I see great things happening in California schools every day," said Torlakson.

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