California Department of Education Releases 2019-20 High School Graduation and Dropout Rates

SACRAMENTO—The California Department of Education (CDE) today released high school graduation data that showed rates remained largely steady overall in 2019–20—and some of the state’s highest-need students saw increases—during a school year in which the majority of California’s schools abruptly shifted to distance learning midway through their spring semesters due to the COVID-19 public health crisis.

“The COVID-19 crisis upended the senior years of hundreds of thousands of high school students throughout California, and I am proud of the resilience of these young adults and of the educators who went above and beyond to help keep them on track to graduate,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

Among all students statewide who started high school in 2016, 84.3 percent graduated with their peers, compared to the 84.5 percent from the year before. Rates for many student groups remained level year-to-year, though some experienced decreases (Asian, Filipino, White) while others, including some of the state’s highest-need students, saw increases (American Indian or Alaska Native, English Learners, Foster Youth, Students with Disabilities). (See Table 1).

Overall, statewide dropout rates for 2019–20 also remained largely stable at 8.9 percent, compared to 9 percent the previous year. The largest increases in the dropout rates were experienced among Asian, Filipino and White students, while the largest decreases were seen among students who are African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, English Learners, Foster Youth, or Students with Disabilities. (See Table 2).

Additionally, the five-year cohort graduation rate—the rate for students who began high school in 2015 and earned their diploma in 2020—was reported at 87 percent.

To view state, county, district, and school graduation and dropout rates, visit the California Department of Education's DataQuest.

Downloadable data files for graduation rates are available on the CDE Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate and Outcome Data web page and on the Five-Year Cohort Graduation Rate and Outcome Data web page.

Table 1: Graduation Counts and Rates by Student Group

Table 2: Dropout Counts and Rates by Student Group

# # # #

Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100