Lake Oswego High School Graduation Rate Remains Above 90 Percent

The graduation rates for the two high schools in Lake Oswego - Lake Oswego High School and Lakeridge High School are both above 90 percent, according to data released Thursday by the Oregon Department of Education. The rate for both schools were virtually unchanged from the year before.

The graduation rate at Lakeridge rose to 92.83 percent from 91.57 percent while the rate at Lake Oswego High School dipped to 91.12 percent from 91.75 percent.

Both are significantly above the state graduation rate of 74.8 percent.

Both schools saw dramatic reversals in the graduation rates of Black/African-American and Hispanic/Latino students.

At Lakeridge, the graduation rate for Black/African-American students fell to 85.7 percent from 100 percent while the rate for Hispanic/Latino students rose to 90.91 percent from 83.33 percent.

At Lake Oswego High School, the graduation rate for Black/African-American students fell to 75.00 percent from 100 percent while the graduation rate for Hispanic/Latino students rose to 86.36 percent from72.22 percent.

The news statewide was good but shows how much more work the state still has to do.

The state saw a one percent increase in the graduation rate - to 74.8 percent from 73.8 percent. Overall, the state says that 1,300 more students graduated last year than had the year before.

"It shows the dedication of our teachers and school administrators that graduation rates are increasing across the board," said Deputy Superintendent Salam Noor. "We are making progress, while recognizing there is still more work to do.

"We are pleased our state's focus on improving graduation outcomes for all students is making a difference."

Highlights of the report include significant gains in the student groups where the largest graduation gaps exist:

• African American students up 3.6 points to 66.1 percent (53.3 percent in 2011)
• American Indian/Alaska Native students up 1.4 points to 56.4 percent (50.8 percent in 2011)
• Hispanic/Latino students up 2.0 points to 69.4 percent (59.5 percent in 2011)
• Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students up 6.9 points to 70.1 percent (66.2 percent in 2011)
• Ever English Learners (students who are now or ever have been classified as English Language Learners) up 4.2 points to 71.1 percent (58.0 percent in 2012, the first year of data collection for that group)
• Limited English Proficient students up 1.7 points to 52.9 percent (49.2 percent in 2011)
• Students with disabilities up 2.8 points to 55.5 percent (38.2 percent in 2011)

In addition, every other student demographic group demonstrated gains:

• Asian students up 0.5 points to 88.0 percent (80.7 percent in 2011)
• White students up 0.6 points to 76.6 percent (69.1 percent in 2011)
• Multi-Racial students up 1.7 points to 74.4 percent (69.1 percent in 2011)
• Female students up 0.6 points to 78.4 percent (72.9 percent in 2011)
• Male students up 1.3 points to 71.4 percent (64.3 percent in 2011)

"Closing the achievement gap is crucial to ensuring education equity in Oregon," said Noor. "Although many of the gaps remain large, it is good news for all Oregonians when the disparity in graduation rates decreases.

"It is critical that we continue to work together to help Oregon students achieve at their highest potential."

While the state has seen its graduation rate rise three percent over the past three years, the state still has its work to do. Most states have yet to release their 2016 graduation rates, in 2015 - the last year for which information for all states is available, Oregon ranked 48 out of 50.

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