More Must Stay, Says Payzant : High School Dropout Rate Dips a Bit

Of every 1,000 high school seniors in the San Diego Unified School District who might have been expected to graduate, about 165 dropped out of school instead during the 1982-83 academic year, a study commissioned by the school board reveals.

The study, which came before the school board Tuesday, reported that of the 35,886 students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 during the last academic year, 1,602 left school--an annual overall dropout rate of 4.5%--without transferring or enrolling in an alternative program.

School officials said that although that rate may be considered “low or below the statewide average,” more aggressive efforts are needed to keep students in school.

“We cannot afford to stand around and pat ourselves on the back for having a low leaver rate,” said district Supt. Thomas W. Payzant. “The study confirmed things we suspected, and our focus must be on prevention and getting others into alternative programs. The attrition rate is too high.”

Payzant said the district will develop early intervention programs to reduce the number of school dropouts, or “leavers.” More alternative programs designed to attract the dropouts also will be developed, he said.

The last study showed that 5.6% of students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 left school during the 1979-80 academic year.