April 8, 1997

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Trost) RE: DROPOUT RATE DECLINES TO NEW LOW IN CITY SCHOOLS The dropout rate in San Diego City Schools declined for the third consecutive year to an all-time low for students in grades 7-12 last year. The overall dropout rate for students in grades 7-12 during the 1995-96 school year was 2.2 percent, down from 2.7 percent the previous year. Superintendent Bertha Pendleton announced the decline in the number of students dropping out of school at the Board of Education's regular meeting today. Pendleton attributed the declines to better recordkeeping and the effectiveness of district intervention programs. "School site administrators, teachers and other staff members have worked very hard to accomplish this reduction," Pendleton said. "I am gratified to see continuous progress toward significantly lowering the district's dropout rate." Pendleton called for renewed emphasis on reducing the dropout rate when she became superintendent in1993. Over the last three years the dropout rate for grades 9-12 has dropped from 4.8 percent in 1992-93 to 3.2 percent in 1995-96. The district dropout rates for students grades 7 and 8 declined to 0.7 percent in 1995-96 from 1.1 percent in 1994-95. Students in grade 12 continue to have the highest dropout rate at 4.6 percent. Schools singled out for special commendations for lowered rates include Mann Middle School (3.2 percent to 1.5 percent), Memorial Junior High (2.3 to 1.2), Crawford High (5.7 to 4.1), Kearny High (3.2 to 1.9), Mira Mesa High (3.0 to 1.1), Morse High (6.8 to 2.5), the Charter School of San Diego (8.0 to 5.9) and Youth Opportunities Unlimited (7.3 to 6.2). All figures compare rates from 1994-95 to 1995-96.   Pendleton attributed the declines to better recordkeeping and program effectiveness. Students in grade 12 continue to have the highest dropout rate at 4.6 percent. The district has concentrated efforts on reducing dropout rates, especially for Hispanic and African American students. Following a sharp rise in dropout rates in 1992-93, the rates fell to levels about 30 percent lower in 1995-96 than in 1991-92. The Hispanic dropout rate at 3.5 percent and the African American dropout rate at 2.5 percent remain the highest for students by ethnic group.   Males continued to have higher one-year dropout rates at 2.4 percent than girls, who drop out at a 2.1 percent rate. The district's four-year estimated dropout rate for grades 9-12 declined from 14.1 percent in 1994-95 to 12.5 percent in 1995-96. A four-year estimated dropout rate is that percent of students entering ninth grade that are projected to drop out before graduating. The estimates are based on actual and projected data.   Pendleton continued to caution that the district must not become complacent in its efforts to prevent students from dropping out of school. Enrolling dropouts into alternative education programs so they can finish their high school educations will remain a priority in the district, she said.   "Our students and our community must recognize that economic survival in the 21st century depends on a high school education at a minimum," Pendleton said.   The charts below show selected statistics for dropout rates in San Diego City Schools for students in grades 9-12. Four-year estimated districtwide dropout rates (%) 1992-93 18.0 1993-94 16.2 1994-95 14.1 1995-96 12.5 Single-year districtwide dropout rates grades 9-12 (%) 1992-93 4.8 1993-94 4.2 1994-95 3.7 1995-96 3.2 Four-year estimated dropout rates by ethnic groups (%) Hispanic African American Indochinese White Asian Filipino 1992-93 30.6 20.9 14.3 11.3 7.9 8.6 1993-94 26.5 17.8 9.7 10.5 5.8 12.2 1994-95 22.1 15.7 12.4 8.4 4.9 11.2 1995-96 19.6 13.9 9.9 8.6 1.9 7.0 For more information, please contact the district's Communications Office at 619-725-5578.