El Cerrito High School Outperforms State in Graduation Rates

The 2012 graduation rate in the West Contra Costa Unified School District was lower than the state average and the district's percentage of high school dropouts substantially higher, but the news was much better at El Cerrito High School.

Figures released Tuesday by the state superintendent of schools' office show that overall the district's graduation rate last year was 75.92percent, below the state average of 78.5 percent.

The dropout rate for the district was listed as 18.6 percent, above this year's 13.2 percent statewide average.

There is 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.

This year's figures track the class of 2012. For the previous year, the district's graduation rate was 77.0 percent and the dropout rate 18.1 percent.

At El Cerrito Senior High, the 2012 graduation rate was 86.9 percent, well above the state average, and the dropout rate 9.4 percent, below the statewide average.

A breakdown of graduation rates at ECHS by race/ethnicity shows graduation rates of 80.2 percent for Hispanic or Latino students (of any race); 90.0 percent for Asian students; 100 percent for Pacific Islanders; 75.0 percent for Filipino students; 89.7 percent for African Americans; and 95.0 percent for white students.

Figures for all WCCUSD high schools are available on the state Department of Education website.

Statewide Figures

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.

What have been your experiences with El Cerrito High? Tell us in the comments section below.