1. Graduation and Completion Rates1

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

3. Overview of the calculations for dropout, graduation and completion rates
12/3/2018
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
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
Statewide
Rate
(and count)
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. Graduation rates
Graduation rates are based on a cohort of students with a common anticipated year of graduation.
For example, the cohort of would include all students with an anticipated year of graduation of

5. Graduation rates
Numerator is a count of all students with the same anticipated year of graduation who receive a diploma.
Denominator is a count of all students with the same anticipated year of graduation.

6. Who are all these students?
Graduation Rates
All students with the same AYG
(used for denominator)
Who are all these students?
Graduates (used for numerator) 6

7. 12/3/2018
Graduation rates
Denominator includes students with the same AYG who received a diploma and students:
who dropped out in prior years
who transferred to a GED program
who were expelled
who are still enrolled
who received a GED
who received a certificate of completion
Students who are still enrolled at your school regardless of actual attendance
Mention that the greyed-out kids…..

8. Graduation rates
Graduation rate is calculated by taking the numerator and dividing by the denominator
(Number of students in same AYG receiving a diploma)
(Number of students who have the same AYG)

9. Graduates
3 year graduate received diploma one year before the anticipated year of graduation.
4 year graduate received diploma during the anticipated year of graduation.
5 year graduate received diploma one year after the anticipated year of graduation.
6 year graduate received diploma two years after the anticipated year of graduation.
7 year graduate received diploma three years after the anticipated year of graduation.

10. Graduation rates
CDE calculates 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 year graduation rates.
These are based on the anticipated year of graduation (AYG).
On-time graduation is considered graduating on or before the student’s AYG (i.e. – in 4 years or less).

11. On-Time Graduation rates (Four-Year Graduation Rates)
12/3/2018
On-Time Graduation rates (Four-Year Graduation Rates)
On-time graduation rates would include all students who receive a diploma before or in the year that matches anticipated year of graduation.
This includes 3 and 4 year graduates.
Example:
The numerator for the on-time graduation rate for would include all students:
with an anticipated year of graduation of
and
receiving a diploma on or before August 31st of 2016
The denominator includes all students with a AYG.
3 year graduates do not count for the graduation rate for the year in which they graduated. They count towards the school’s on-time graduation rate for the following year.

12. A 2016 Graduation Ceremony could include:
Students with an AYG of
Students with other AYGs:
3 year graduates
5 year graduates
6 year graduates
7 year graduates
What is our graduation rate for 2016?
It depends. Which AYG cohort are you talking about? 12

13. Completion Rate Different?
How is the
Completion Rate Different? 13

14. Overview of the calculations for dropout, graduation and completion rates
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
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 14

15. 12/3/2018
Who is a “completer”?
Students who receive a diploma, the HSE (GED) or certificate of completion.
What is a “certificate of completion”?
Each local school board must determine qualifications for students in that district to receive a certificate of completion. 15

16. How are Completion Rates Calculated?
Completion rate is calculated by dividing the numerator by the denominator:
(Number of students in same AYG receiving a diploma
and
students receiving the GED
Students receiving a Certificate of Completion)
(Number of students who have the same AYG)

17. Completion rates
CDE calculates 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 year completion rates.
These are based on the anticipated year of graduation (AYG).
On-time (four-year) completion is considered completing on or before the student’s AYG (i.e. – in 4 years or less).

18. For More Information See the CDE website:
To find district and school rates:
Contact Data Services at or 18