For a second straight year, the Morgan Hill Unified School District graduated nearly 90 percent of its students, according to data released April 11 by the California Department of Education.
With an 88.8 percent graduation rate, MHUSD’s 2015-16 class had the same rate as the district’s 2014-15 class. The dropout rate decreased from 5.8 to 5.4 percent in comparing the last two years of MHUSD classes.
Local graduation/dropout rates outperformed those of the state (83.2/9.8) and Santa Clara County (83/12).
Graduation and dropout rates for counties, districts and schools across the state were calculated based on four-year cohort information using the state’s California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS). Cohort means the same group of students entered ninth grade for the first time and were followed for four years. School districts submit their own data and are able to review the statistics prior to them being made available to the public.
State education leaders were pleased with an overall increase in graduation rates and decrease in dropout rates overall and within subgroups.
“Graduation rates have gone up seven years in a row, reflecting renewed optimism and increased investments in our schools that have helped reduce class sizes; bring back classes in music, theater, art, dance and science; and expand career technical education programs that engage our students with hands-on, minds-on learning,” said State Superintendent Tom Torlakson. “The increasing rates show that the positive changes in California schools are taking us in the right direction.”
Five hundred and seventy-nine of 652 MHUSD students graduated with their class in Spring 2016 with 35 students reported as dropouts, according to the state’s dataquest system.
Broken down into subgroups, MHUSD held an 81.9 percent grad rate (231/282) and a 9.2 dropout rate among its Hispanic students in the 2015-16 class. As for White students, MHUSD reported a 93.7 grad rate (237/253) with a 3.2 dropout rate.
MHUSD’s two comprehensive high schools showed off their successes with Live Oak HS having a 95.3 grad rate and a 2.6 dropout rate while Sobrato’s 2015-16 class recorded a 93.7 grad rate with a 4.8 dropout rate.
Of Live Oak’s 235 Hispanic students in the 2015-16 class, 224 graduated on time for a 90.7 grad rate with a 6.8 dropout rate while 120 of 126 White students graduated for a 95.2 rate with a 0 percent dropout rate. At Sobrato, the rates were 90.7 grad (7.8 dropout) for Hispanic students and 95.2 (4 dropouts) for White students.
Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint 97/1.9
Fremont Union 96.3/2.2
Milpitas Unified 95.8/3.2
Palo Alto Unified 94.9/4.1
Gilroy Unified 92.1/4.7
Morgan Hill Unified 88.8/5.4
Campbell Union 88.1/9.4
San Jose Unified 87.6/6.5
Eastside Union 85/9.9
Santa Clara Unified 84.5/8.8
Statewide 83.2/9.8
Countywide 83/12
