Ventura County saw improvement in its high school graduation and dropout rates according to data released today by the California Department of Education. The graduation rate for the 2013-14 school year was 83.2 percent, which is up from 79.2 percent in 2009-10. Over the same period, the dropout rate has decreased from 13.2 percent to 9.3 percent.

Ventura County’s graduation rate in 2013-14 exceeded the statewide rate of 80.8 percent. The County also enjoyed a 2013-14  dropout rate that’s better than the state figure of 11.4 percent. Both the Ventura County and statewide graduation rates are record highs in the five year period since the Department of Education changed the method it uses to collect the data. The new method implemented for the 2009-10 school year follows the same groups of students, or cohorts, during the data collection period.

“The improvements we’re seeing in Ventura County show the changes being made in education are paying off,” said Ventura County Superintendent of School Stan Mantooth. “Higher academic standards, an increased focus on critical thinking and new sources of funding are all helping students reach their goal of receiving a high school diploma.”

The data for Ventura County show the following regarding subgroups based on race and ethnicity, gender, English speaking ability and Special Education status:

• All All subgroups have seen an increase in their graduation rate since 2009-10
• All groups have seen a decrease in dropout rates from 2009-10 to 2013-14
• Males lag behind females in graduation rates: 81.2 percent to 85.2 percent respectively
• English Learner students and Special Education students lag behind all other student groups in graduation rates
• From 2012-13 to 2013-14, the subgroups of African American, Filipino, English Learner, and Special Education students had small decreases in graduation rates
• From 2012-13 to 2013-14, Hispanic students had an increase in their graduation rate and a decrease in their dropout rate
• From 2012-13 to 2013-14, African American students had a decrease in their graduation rate and an increase in their dropout rate

Graduation and dropout rates at the state, county, district and school levels can be found at the California Department of Education’s DataQuest website.