To ensure that all Oklahoma public school students graduate high school
|What Does This Measure? | Why Is This Important? | What Do the Results Tell Us? | What Actions Are We Taking?|
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This measure reports the percentage of ninth grade students continuing through high school until they graduate. This particular method of calculating the graduation rate allows a comparison of Oklahoma's rate to that of the U.S.
On average, 23% of Oklahoma students leave school between ninth grade and graduation. Graduation and receiving a high school diploma are gateways to entering the workforce and higher education. A college student's ability to perform academically is greatly influenced by the preparation received in their primary and secondary education. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, students obtaining a high school diploma earn significantly more than students who do not complete their high school studies.
Oklahoma's ninth grade graduation rate consistently ranks above the national trend. Oklahoma's rate was between 74.4% and 77.7% over the last 5 years, while the national average was between 70.4% and 73.9%. Both the state and national average experienced an increase of about 3 percent from last year to this year.
Tracking rates over time allows subject matter experts to monitor trends and inconsistencies across the state, region and nation. Policymakers use this information to determine where to focus resources and how to develop programs and services designed to improve graduation rates. Achieving Classroom Excellence (ACE) is a remediation opportunity implemented by the State of Oklahoma offering tutoring assistance to students in preparation for End-of-Instruction (EOI) exams. Legislation passed in 2012 ends "social promotion" by requiring third grade students to read at grade level before progressing to fourth grade. For more information on these and other educational programs, visit SDE.OK.gov.