Alternative high schools’ graduation rates drop sharply

Marisa O’Neil

While five district high schools far exceed state target rates for

graduation, the two alternative education programs have seen drastic

drops in graduation rates, according to the latest round of test

results, released by the California Department of Education on

Friday.

The 2003 Adequate Yearly Progress Phase II reports showed 93.6% of

seniors in the district graduated from high school last year,

exceeding the state’s 82.8% target. Two schools, Corona del Mar High

School and Middle College High School, had 100% graduation rates.

“All [the schools] showed growth in the number of graduating

students,” said Peggy Anatol, director of curriculum and assessment

for the district. “The number of our dropouts is shrinking, and our

graduates are growing.”

All the schools except the two alternative schools, Back Bay and

Monte Vista high schools, have higher graduation rates in 2003 than

they did on 2002. Back Bay and Monte Vista had significantly lower

graduation rates, which district officials attributed to the schools’

unique structures.

“One year, you could have everyone graduate, and another year, you

could have an influx of children who call themselves seniors but

weren’t even going to graduate at their own schools,” district

spokeswoman Jane Garland said. “The students are never there for four

years.”

At Monte Vista, the graduation rate for 2002, which reflects rates

for the class of 2001, was 81.1%, and for 2003 it was 60.3%. At Back

Bay, rates dropped from 76.9% to 16.7%.

The rates take into consideration the number of seniors who

graduate and the number of students in that class who have dropped

out since ninth grade. At Back Bay, 10 students dropped out and two

graduated, according to the report.

Because of the school’s small size -- Garland said 92 students are

enrolled this year -- officials warned that the data is not always an

accurate representation. Students entering the school as seniors but

who have too few credits to graduate by the end of the year also

count in the formula.

But another high school with low enrollment numbers, Middle

College High School, had 100% graduation rates. Students voluntarily

enroll at that school to take college-level courses or to graduate

early.

Graduation rates at the other schools all exceeded 95% and showed

improvement from last year, despite new requirements for seniors.

Starting with last year’s graduating class, each student is now

required to do 40 hours of community service and complete a

comprehensive senior project, including shadowing a professional in

his or her chosen field and making a presentation to a three-person

panel.

“It’s really a tribute to where kids are today,” Costa Mesa High

School Principal John Garcia said. “We’re expecting so much more from

them, and they continue to deliver.”

The formula used to measure the graduation rates is part of the

federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2002.

The results released Friday also includes Phase I Annual

Measurable Objectives data for the schools, which measures

proficiency in math and English. That data was released earlier this

year.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.