Public High School Dropouts and Completers from the Common Core of Data: School Years 1991-92 through 1997-98.

This report examines data from the National Center for Education Statistics' Common Core of Data (CCD) on public high school dropout and four-year completion rates. The four-year completion rate is the proportion of students who leave school from grades 9-12 as completers. The CCD four-year completion rate is limited to public school data from grades 9-12. Findings show that between 1993-94 and 1997-98, the high school dropout rates were between 4-7 percent in almost two-thirds of reporting states. White and Asian/Pacific Islander students were less likely to drop out than were American Indian, black, or Hispanic students. Students were more likely to drop out of high school in urban than rural districts. High school four-year completion rates were 80 percent or higher in 20 of 33 reporting states in 1997-98. The average four-year completion rate was less than 60 percent for American Indian students in 9 reporting states, Hispanic students in 6 states, and black students in 6 states in 1997-98. In every reporting state except Alabama, Maine, and West Virginia, the four-year completion rate of Asian students was higher than that of the other minority groups in 1997-98. (SM) NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS Statistical Analysis Report April 2002 Public High School Dropouts and Completers Fmm the Common Core of Data: School years 1991-92 Through 1997 98 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Off ice of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) IiThis document has been reproduced as received born the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and improvement NCES 2002-317 BEST COPY AVAILABLE 2 NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS Statistical Analysis Report April 2002 Public High School Dropouts and Completers From the Common Core of Data: School Years 1991-92 Through 1997 98 Beth Aronstamm Young