Graduation Rate Calculation

Two separate graduation rates have been adopted: one for traditional schools and one for schools with Dashboard Alternative School Status (DASS).

Graduation Rate for Traditional Schools

For traditional high schools, the graduation rate is based on the number of students who graduate with a regular high school diploma within four or five years. The rate is known as the combined four-and five-year graduation rate. To be counted as graduates under the combined graduations rate (i.e., to be included in the numerator of this rate), students must graduate with a regular high school diploma within four or five years of entering grade nine.

Performance on this measure is determined by (1) the percent of students who graduated in four or five years by the end of 2019 and (2) whether results (i.e., the graduation rate) improved or declined between 2018 and 2019.

Graduation Rate Formula

Number of Students Who Graduated in Four or Five Years by the End of 2019

divided by

Total Number of Students in the Class of 2019 plus Students Who Graduated in Five Years by the End of 2019

Graduation Rate for DASS Schools

A modified graduation rate is used to fairly evaluate the success and progress of DASS schools, which serve high-risk students. This modified graduation rate—called the DASS Graduation Rate— is based on students who are in grade twelve. To be counted as graduates under the DASS graduation rate, students must:

• Attend a DASS school
• Have been assigned to grade twelve, and
• Received (1) a regular high school diploma or (2) an alternative certification approved for DASS schools.

Performance on this measure is determined by (1) the percent of students who graduated in 2018–19 and (2) whether results (i.e., the graduation rate) improved or declined between 2018 and 2019.

DASS Graduation Rate Formula

Number of Students Who Graduated in 2018–19

divided by

Total Number of Grade 12 Non-Graduates plus Students Who Graduated in 2018–19

Difference from Prior Year Graduation Rate Formula

Current Year Graduation Rate minus Prior Year Graduation Rate

For details on who should be counted in the numerator and denominator, please see the California School Dashboard Technical Guide, which is posted on the CDE California School Dashboard and System of Support web page at California School Dashboard and System of Support.

Determining a Performance Level

Based on the current year and prior year data, a performance level (or color) will be given for this measure. The performance level is determined by using a five-by-five colored grid.

Example: Big League High School has the following graduation rate data:

• In the current year, its graduation rate was 96.0 percent
• From the prior year to the current one, the graduation rate declined by 0.9 percentage points

Using the five-by-five grid for the Graduation Rate, we see that a graduation rate of 96 percent is considered "Very High" (see left column). Additionally, a decline of 0.9 percentage points from the prior year falls into the "Maintained" level (i.e., declined or increased by less than 1.0 percent.) on the grid, "Very High" and "Maintained" intersect at the Blue performance level, which is the highest level possible.