Washington, DC

CONTACT:
LaToya Foster (EOM) – (202) 727-5011; [email protected]
Fred Lewis (OSSE) – (202) 412-2167; [email protected]

The 2015-16 school year graduation rate for public high schools in the District of Columbia increased 3.8 percent over the previous school year, with 69.2 percent of students graduating from high school on time.

“On the heels of President Obama’s announcement about increased gains nationally, today’s news proves that the District is on the right track and working hard to meet the needs of our students,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “We are continuing to make progress in supporting our students’ pathways into the workforce and the middle class.”

The graduation rate for DC Public Schools (DCPS) rose to 69 percent, up from 64.4 percent; and the graduation rate for public charter schools rose to 72.9 percent, up from 71.7 percent. The adjusted cohort consisted of 4,880 students who entered ninth grade in the 2012-13 school year. Of those, 3,377 students graduated high school in spring 2016.

“I am proud to see increases in both DCPS and public charter schools. Not only are more students graduating on time, but these gains reinforce the exceptional work that educators, families, and community members are doing to help students be successful in high school,” said State Superintendent Hanseul Kang. “OSSE is deeply committed to doing the hard work it takes to ensure that all students - regardless of zip code - have equitable access to a quality education, graduate from high school on time, and are prepared for colleges and careers.”

The District uses the Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) to maintain a consistent standard for high school graduation rate reporting. Under the ACGR, a "cohort" of students who entered school as first-time ninth graders in the 2012-13 school year was tracked for four years to determine the total number of students who graduated from high school in the 2015-16 school year with a regular diploma.

The District's graduation rate measurements account for students who transferred out of the cohort to private schools, began home schooling, moved to another state or country, died or had a serious illness. The measurements also account for students who transferred into the DC public or public charter school system after being a first-time ninth grader in the 2012-13 school year in another school district.

For more information about public school graduation rates in the District, visit the OSSE website at osse.dc.gov/.