1. Dropout Rates 1

2. Why is this important?
For schools and districts to understand how CDE defines “dropout”
For schools and districts to understand how CDE calculates dropout rates
For schools and districts to understand how dropout rates compare to graduation and completion rates

3. Overview of the calculations for dropout, graduation and completion rates
11/22/2018
Graduation Rate
Completion Rate
Dropout Rate
4-year cohort
(The Class of…)
4-year cohort
(The Class of…)
Annual (July 1 to June 30)
Time period
# of students receiving a diploma, GED certificate, or designation of high school completion within 4 years of initially entering 9th grade
# of students receiving a diploma within 4 years of initially finishing 8th grade
Number of reported dropouts and “age outs” during the past year
Numerator
# of students finishing 8th grade four years earlier + transfers in – verified transfers out
# of students finishing 8th grade four years earlier + transfers in – verified transfers out
# of students that were in membership in grade 7-12 at any time during the past year
Denominator
In the overview, we talked about… This webinar will highlight this….
Example:
Statewide
Rate
(and count)
76.9%
46,756 graduates / membership base of 60,777
79.6%
48,350 completers / membership base of 60,777
2.5%
10,664 dropouts / ,226 records of student membership in grades 7-12
5-, 6-, and 7-year graduation rates are also calculated and posted for each cohort
5-, 6-, and 7-year completion rates are also calculated and posted for each cohort
Students exiting to a GED program are not counted as dropouts in the dropout rate
Notes 3

4. Definitions What is the dropout rate?
The Colorado dropout rate is an annual rate, reflecting the percentage of all students enrolled in grades 7-12 that leave school during a single school year without subsequently attending another school or educational program. 
What is a dropout?
A dropout is a “person who leaves school for any reason, except death, before completion of a high school diploma or its equivalent, and who does not transfer to another public or private school or enroll in an approved home study program.” 4

5. Who is counted as a dropout?
Students who are counted as dropouts
Students who are coded as dropouts
Students who are coded as attending another district and never enroll in another district
Students who age out before graduating or completing
Students who are not counted as dropouts
GED program transfers
Expelled students
Students who transfer to another education environment

6. Student turns 22 without diploma, HSE or certificate
Dropout Calculation
Dropout Calculation – Numerator
Sum of the below
Student counted as a dropout
Includes students who withdraw and do not show up in another district
Student reached maximum age before receiving diploma, GED, or certificate of completion
Countedas dropout
Student turns 22 without diploma, HSE or certificate
Dropout Rate
Denominator

7. Dropout Calculation – Denominator
Sum of the below counts per grade level per school
Number of students returning from the prior year (continuously enrolled students)
Number of students transferring into the district/school
Number of students recovered
Former dropouts, expulsions, return from GED program, etc.
Numerator
Dropout Rate
Continuously enrolled students
Students transferring in
Students recovered

8. =% N*100 D Dropout Rate Dropout rate is calculated annually.
11/22/2018
Dropout Rate
Dropout rate is calculated annually.
Dropout rate
(Numerator *100)/Denominator
Dropout rate is represented as a percent.
N*100 D =%
Cori to clean up visuals on this page

9. Calculation Considerations
11/22/2018
Calculation Considerations
Student is counted as a dropout once in a given year.
The dropout is associated with the last school attended.
Student can be counted as a dropout multiple times across multiple years.
Example: The student was counted as a dropout last year, and the student could be counted as a dropout this year, too.
There are subtle differences between how school and district dropout rates are calculated.
The numerator for the district dropout rate includes summer dropouts.
Reminder that summer dropout is…. Definitions are discussed in detail in the overview webinar.

10. 11/22/2018
Scenario
Which school?
Student enrolls in School A at the beginning of the school year and withdraws on October 2. Student shows up at School B in April and withdraws two weeks later.
Q: Since a student is only coded a dropout one time each year, which school would this student be considered a dropout from according to CDE reporting rules?
A: The last school that the student attended during the school year. In this scenario, the dropout would be attributed to School B.
These type of scenarios have specific implications for district policies and funding distributions in how districts meet the needs of students.

11. For More Information See the CDE website:
To find district and school rates:
Contact Data Services at or 11