DENVER – Many more students are graduating and staying in school across the Denver metro area, according to data released Thursday by Denver Public Schools.
The data shows that for the ninth consecutive year, on-time graduation has steadily gone up. In 2006-2007, the graduation rate was at 39 percent. In 2015-2016, that number went up to 67 percent.
Over the past decade, the dropout rate has decreased by nearly two-thirds, according to DPS officials.
In 2005-2006, the dropout rate was 11.1 percent. Last year, the dropout rate steadily declined to 4 percent, the report shows.
How is the rest of the state doing?
Colorado has shown “a marked increase” of students heading to college with a graduation rate of 78.9 percent in 2016, according to data released by the Colorado Department of Education.
That’s the highest four-year rate since 2010, state officials said, adding that the numbers show a 1.6 percentage increase from 2014-2015, when the graduation rate statewide was at 77.3 percent.
“The news is encouraging for the state and shows the continued dedicated commitment of students, parents, teachers and school staff,” said Colorado Education Commissioner Kath Anthes.
While the state’s dropout rates have also declined, the decline has been minor.
Dropout rates have only decreased 0.2 percentage points over 2014-2015 year, amounting to 2.3 percentage points across the state.
Graduation rates by ethnicity have also narrowed between white students and those of color in 2015-2016:
- American Indian = 62 percent
- Asian = 86 percent
- Black = 71.8 percent
- Hispanic = 69.9 percent
- Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander = 74.4 percent
- Two or more races = 79.1 percent
- White = 84.4 percent
Additionally, graduations rates by gender show 82.7 percent females graduated high school while only 75.3 percent males did across the state.
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