States Begin Reporting Uniform High School Graduation Rate; Rate Is Designed to Be More Accurate

The U.S. Department of Education recently announced that states will begin reporting high school graduation rates for the 2010-2011 school year using a more rigorous, uniform four-year adjusted cohort, first developed by the nation's governors in 2005. Transition to the common rate is designed to reflect states' efforts to generate greater uniformity and transparency in calculating high school graduation data, and to meet requirements of a federal regulation established in October 2008.

Since data reporting requirements were implemented under No Child Left Behind, states have calculated graduation rates using varying methods, creating inconsistent data from one state to the next. The transition to a uniform high school graduation rate requires all states to report the number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma, divided by the number of students who entered high school four years earlier, and accounting for student transfers in and out of school. States may also opt to use an extended-year adjusted cohort, which allows states, districts, and schools to account for students who complete high school in more than four years.

In addition, schools must maintain documentation for students who have transferred. States will continue to report graduation rates at the high school, district, and state levels including rates for subgroups of students. The new measurement holds schools accountable for students who drop out and others who do not earn a regular high school diploma.

The Education Department anticipates that the more rigorous method will result in lower reported graduation rates, yet it will reflect a more accurate calculation of how many U.S. students complete high school. "Through this uniform method, states are raising the bar on data standards, and simply being more honest," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in a prepared statement.

Graduation rates for the 2010-2011 school year will be reported throughout the summer and fall on a state-by-state basis. States are publicly reporting graduation rates using the new four-year adjusted cohort rate now, however rates resulting from this new method will not be used for accountability purposes until the 2011-2012 school year.

Media report:

Bangor Daily News: States brace for graduation rate dips as formula changes (27 JUL 11)