CCSD high school graduation rates among lowest in Nevada

By Cy Ryan

Monday, April 8, 2013 | 5:20 p.m.

The Clark County School District is near the bottom in Nevada in the percentage of students who graduate after four years of high school.

The state Department of Education released its report Monday showing the graduation rates for 2011-12, putting Clark County at 61.69 percent.

The state’s average rate of graduation after four years of high school was 63.14 — only Mineral County at 53.8 percent and Nye County at 56.32 were below Clark County.

The department said it tracked the movement of all students entering high school in 2008-09 and determined how many received a regular high school diploma in four years.

Looking at the graduation rate in a five-year period, Clark County posted a 61.03 percent, the lowest in the state.

The department said all states use the same gradation rate formula, but states award different types of high school diplomas for schools. Some states include an adjusted or modified diploma toward graduation.

Nevada does not consider the adjusted diploma as a graduate for the graduation rate calculation. In this state, the department said an adjusted diploma can be awarded to students with disabilities who satisfactorily complete the requirements of their individual education program but did not meet additional requirements for a regular diploma.

Washoe County, the second most populous county in Nevada, had a graduation rate of 69.2 percent for four years and 71.91 percent for five years.

The highest graduations rates for four years of high school were in Lander at 80.85 percent; Douglas at 80.41 and Pershing at 80.36.