State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced this week 66 percent of last year’s Oregon seniors graduated within four years. This rate describes the percent of graduates among cohorts, or groups, of students by following those students through high school and determining which of the students achieved a regular high school diploma within four years.

This year’s report describes the graduation rates for students who first entered high school in 2006-07. Students who receive a modified diploma, GED, adult high school diploma, or alternative certificate are considered non-graduates in the cohort graduation calculation. This year, the Oregon Department of Education also describes the percent of students who graduate within five years to capture those students who needed additional time to complete graduation requirements. Sixty-nine percent of students who entered high school in 2005-06 graduated within five years.

Newberg’s four year cohort graduation rate for 2009-10 was 74.8% compared to 71.3% in 2008-09

Data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education, shows Newberg’s NCES Graduation rate for 2009-10 was 88.0% compared to 82.9% in 2008-09.

Overall, dropout rates at NHS improved over this same period in 2008-09 said Superintendent Paula Radich. "While we have seen improvement we have considerable work ahead of us." Radich is working with small school principals and with Bill Rogers, Principal of our Alternative School, to identify issues that prevent students from graduating. She anticipates recommendations for intervention.

2009-10 dropout rates by student group at NHS compared to 2008-09 rates