Mixed News on Wilsonville HS Graduation Rates

Two of the three high schools in the West Linn-Wilsonville saw their graduation rates rise last year. Overall, the district had a graduation rate of 93 percent, well above the state wide graduation rate of 74.83 percent.

Wilsonville High School was the outlier among the schools, seeing it's graduation rate drop nearly two percent to 92.63 percent from 94.36 percent - still among the highest in the state.

Arts and Technology High School, which had room to grow, saw a tremendous increase in its graduation rate, rising West Linn High School clocked in a 98.06 percent graduation rate, a 1.21 percent increase from the year before.

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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