Districtwide graduation rate 85.3 percent above the state average; Dropout rate of 9.1 percent down from 18.7 percent in 2009-10
CONCORD, CA – The graduation rate for the Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) high school class of 2015-16 is 85.3 percent, a slight increase from 85.1 percent in 2014-15, and above the state average of 83.2 percent, according to data released today by the California Department of Education (CDE). The dropout rate for MDUSD fell for the seventh consecutive year to 9.1 percent, down from 11.3 percent the previous year, and below the state average of 9.8 percent.
The district’s graduation rate has increased 10.4 percentage points since the class of 2010 posted a 74.9 percent rate. The dropout rate has declined by more than 50% over the last several years, down 9.7 percentage points from 2009-2010.
“We are exceptionally pleased to see an overall increase in our district graduation rate,” said Dr. Nellie Meyer, MDUSD Superintendent. “This affirms the hard work at all of our schools to offer a challenging education that promotes equity and excellence for all students.”
While graduation rates also increased across the board for English Learners, and socioeconomically disadvantaged students, Meyer noted there is still hard work remaining to close the achievement gap for these student groups, as well as students with disabilities.
“We will continue to make essential investments into professional development for our teachers and administrators, to continue the integration of technology into our classrooms as a critical tool for teaching and learning, and continue leveraging our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) to direct resources as needed to those students with the greatest need,” she added. “The involvement of our families and community partners will remain vital to continued progress and improvement across the district.”
Significant graduation rate increases were reported for Concord High, up 6.1 percent from 2014-15 to 94.6 percent for 2015-16. Concord High also reported the most significant dropout rate reduction – from 9.4 percent to 2.8 percent. Other high schools with significantly higher-than-average graduation rates include College Park High School (96.8 percent) and Northgate High School (96.4%). Ygnacio Valley High School remained above the state average at 85.5 percent, but down from 88.8 percent for the class of 2015. Mt. Diablo High School’s graduation rate dipped slightly, down 1.3 percentage points to 85.3 percent. Dropout rates declined at all high schools districtwide.
Alternative schools also reported dramatic graduation increases and dropout reductions. The graduation rate for Horizons School, for example, rose 8.5 percent from 2014-15 to 86.8%. Horizons also reported a 50 percent reduction in its dropout rate, from 18.8 percent in 2014-15 to 9.4 percent.
Highlights include:
- More students overall are graduating
- Significantly fewer students overall are dropping out
- Fewer minority students are dropping out, with rates for:
- American Indian/Alaskan Native students down to zero from 14.3 percent
- African American students down to 1.6 percent from 6.3 percent
- Hispanic students down from 3.6 percent to 2.3 percent
To view and download state, county, district, and school graduation and dropout rates, visit the California Department of Education’s DataQuest.
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Mt. Diablo Unified, located in Contra Costa County, is honored to serve approximately 32,000 students at one of more than 50 school sites in the cities of Clayton, Concord, Pleasant Hill; portions of Martinez, Pittsburg and Walnut Creek; and the unincorporated communities of Bay Point, Lafayette, and Pacheco. As part of a richly diverse community, MDUSD families represent numerous ethnic groups, speaking nearly 50 different languages and dialects. We offer innovative programs in Career Technical Education; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); extensive visual and performing arts programs; and rich foreign language and dual immersion offerings. MDUSD is also pleased to have launched its first middle college program, College Now, and will be opening its first International Baccalaureate program and three new regional magnet schools in 2017. Learn more at http://www.mdusd.org/.
