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.
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