ERIC ED427932: Dropout Rate Study: 1997-1998, 1996-1997, 1995-1996, 1994-1995. Annual Dropout Rates in Arizona Public Schools, Grades Seven through Twelve.

100 Pages·1.3 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
RC 021 859
ED 427 932
AUTHOR
Grysho, Kelly Miller
Dropout Rate Study: 1997-1998, 1996-1997, 1995-1996,
TITLE
1994-1995. Annual Dropout Rates in Arizona Public Schools,
Grades Seven through Twelve.
Arizona State Dept. of Education, Phoenix. Research and
INSTITUTION
Policy Div.
PUB DATE
1999-01-00
NOTE
98p.
Descriptive
Numerical/Quantitative Data (110)
-- Reports
PUB TYPE
(141)
MF01/PC04 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
American Indians; Asian Americans; Blacks; Counties;
DESCRIPTORS
*Dropout Rate; *Dropouts; *Enrollment; Hispanic Americans;
*School Districts; Secondary Education; *Secondary School
Students; Secondary Schools; Sex Differences; Tables (Data);
Whites
*Arizona
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
This report presents Arizona dropout statistics for 4
academic years, 1994-98. For each year, dropout rates are reported for grades
7-12 and are based on a calendar year running from the first day of summer
recess through the last day of school. Most of the report consists of data
tables that provide enrollment and dropout information for individual
schools, school districts, and counties, and for the state categorized by
grade, gender, and ethnicity. Enrollment and dropout rates are presented
separately for grades 9-12 and grades 7-8. At the end of 1997-98, there were
376,675 Arizona students enrolled in grades 7-12, of which over 31,000 were
reported as dropouts. The state dropout rate for grades 9-12 for the 4 years
ranged from 11.5 to 12.8 percent. Males tended to drop out more frequently
than females, and American Indian students had the highest dropout rates,
followed by Hispanic students. An introduction includes the dropout data
reporting requirement, definitions, and information on transfer
documentation.
(SV)
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*
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
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from the original document.
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ATE
ROPOUT
bY
LS.ITU
1997-1998
1996-1997
1995-1996
1994-1995
Annual Dropout Rates in Arizona Public Schools
Grades Seven Through Twelve
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
CENTER (ERIC)
Prepared by
Slhhis document has been reproduced as
received from the person or organization
originating it.
Kelly Miller Grysho
0 Minor changes have been made to
improve reproduction quality.
Research <3( Policy Division
Points of view or opinions stated in this
document do not necessarily represent
official OERI position or policy.
January 1999
PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND
DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS
BEEN GRANTED BY
Lisa Graham Keegan, Superintendent of Public Instruction
Itr
kell4
Arizona bepartment of Education
Gr/sho
1535 West Jefferson Street
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
1
3371' COIPY AVARLAIBLIE
I.
The Arizona Department of Education, a state
education agency, is an equal opportunity employer
and affirms that it does not discriminate on the basis
of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, or
handicapping condition
Research and Policy
Mission Statement
The Research and Policy division (R&P) is a nonpartisan research ann of the Arizona Department of
Education whose mission consists of three major components.
First, we are committed to supporting
local school districts and charter schools. The R&P division engages in aggressive outreach in order to
incorporate local input into all of our work. It is our goal to develop a research infrastructure to
conduct prospective analyses of important educational issues to inform all of our stakeholders.
Second, we endeavor to establish a productive dialogue with policy makers at all levels. In particular,
we collaborate with state legislators on the research aspects of legislation.
Third, we are dedicated to
producing quality research. The R&P division is responsible for conducting various program
evaluations, independent research studies and completing mandated reports such as the Dropout Rate
Study.
Dropout rates are often regarded as key indicators of a successful public school system. Therefore, it
is essential to provide local schools, districts, state legislators and members of the community with
reliable data in which to monitor a school's success. Given the importance of this data, it is our
commitment to continually produce the annual Dropout Rate Study in a timely and accurate manner.
iller Gr
ly
Educe ion Rese
ssociate
Arizona Department of Education
DROPOUT RATE STUDY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary
I.
Introduction
3
Dropout Data Reporting Requirement
3
Definitions
3
4
Applying the Dropout Definition
5
Transfer Documentation
5
Analysis
ANALYSIS
5
III.
1997-1998 Dropout Rates
IV.
Enrollment Count, Dropout Count, Dropout Rate
6
7
Dropout Rates by Withdrawal Type
School Year and Summer Dropouts
7
Dropout Rate by Gender
8
9
Dropout Rate by Ethnicity/Race
Dropout Rate by County 10
Dropout Rate by District and School, Grades 9 through 12
11
Dropout Rate by District and School, Grades 7 through 8
18
1996-1997 Dropout Rates
V.
27
Enrollment Count, Dropout Count, Dropout Rate
28
Dropout Rates by Withdrawal Type
28
School Year and Summer Dropouts
29
Dropout Rate by Gender
30
Dropout Rate by Ethnicity/Race
Dropout Rate by County
31
32
Dropout Rate by District and School, Grades 9 through 12
40
Dropout Rate by District and School, Grades 7 through 8
1995-1996 Dropout Rates
VI.
49
Enrollment Count, Dropout Count, Dropout Rate
50
Dropout Rates by Withdrawal Type
50
School Year and Summer Dropouts
Dropout Rate by Gender
51
52
Dropout Rate by Ethnicity/Race
53
Dropout Rate by County
54
Dropout Rate by District and School, Grades 9 through 12
60
Dropout Rate by District and School, Grades 7 through 8
5
VII. 1994-1995 Dropout Rates
Enrollment Count, Dropout Count, Dropout Rate
68
Dropout Rates by Withdrawal Type
69
School Year and Summer Dropouts
69
70
Dropout Rate by Gender
Dropout Rate by Ethnicity/Race
71
Dropout Rate by County
72
Dropout Rate by District and School, Grades 9 through 12
73
Dropout Rate by District and School, Grades 7 through 8
79
6
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The calculation of dropout statistics is a cooperative effort of the local school districts, the Arizona
Department of Education (ADE), the Arizona State Legislature, and the United States Department
of Education. Presently, the emphasis on education reform mandates greater attention to
performance measures, such as the dropout rate, which can serve as a key indicator of a school's
success in maintaining their student population.
Ordinarily, the ADE reports one year's dropout statistics for Arizona school districts. For this
particular study, however, the R&P division has included dropout rate statistics for acadeinic years
1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98. This study, which begins with the 1997-98 school year,
contains dropout rate information for individual schools, districts, counties and the state categorized
by grade, gender and ethnicity. In addition, the data provides actual student enrollment and dropout
counts as well as status unknown rates.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
For this study, dropout rates are reported for grades 7 through 12 and are based on a calendar year
that runs from the first day of summer recess through the last day of school. A school's total
enrollment is used as the population figure against which dropouts are subsequently counted.
Because Arizona law allows school districts five years in which to make necessary corrections to
their data, enrollment data reported by districts may not necessarily agree with the enrollment data
reported herein.
It is important to note that this particular study produces a "snap shot" of Arizona dropout activity
in that it provides information only on students who drop out during one school year. The
Graduation Rate Study, however, is a longitudinal study that tracks graduate and dropout activity
over a four-year period for a particular cohort of students.
For purposes of this study, dropouts are defined as students who were enrolled in school at any
time during the school year, but were not enrolled at the end of the school year and did not transfer
to another school, graduate or die. Summer dropouts are defined as students who were enrolled at
the end of the prior school year, failed to enroll at the beginning of the following school year, and
their absence cannot be explained by graduation, transfer or death. These students are counted as
summer dropouts from the grades in which they were expected to enroll.
General Overview
According to information supplied by local school districts and charter schools, there were 376,675
Arizona students enrolled in grades 7 through 12 at the end of the 1997-1998 school year. Of that
total, more than 31,000 students were reported as dropouts. Data submitted over the past four
consecutive years indicate, among other things, that males tend to drop out more frequently than
females, and American Indian students have the highest dropout numbers followed by Hispanic
students.
7
Arizona Department of Education
Dropout Rate Study
The dropout rates for academic years 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98 are generalized in
the table and chart that follow.
Table 1
Descriptive Measurements of Dropout Rates
Grade/Category
1995-1996
1994-1995
1997-1998
1996-1997
3.0% 3.5% 3.6%
2.9%
Grade 7
3.5%
3.6% 3.4% 3.1%
Grade 8
Total Elementary
3.2% 3.6%
3.5% 3.0%
12.0%
13.6%
11.2%
13.5%
9
drade
11.9% 12.4%
12.0%
11.8%
Grade 10
12.0%
11.2% 11.4%
11.8%
Grade 11
10.1% 10.8%
10.9%
12.6%
12
Grade
35.2%
15.5% 16.6%
10.3%
Ungraded Secondary
Total High School
12.1%
12.2% 12.8% 11.5%
Total All Grades
9.0% 8.5%
8.8% 9.5%
Chart 1
Dropout Rates by Grade
-7
14.0%
12.0%
10.0%
-r
8.0%
6.0%
4.0%
2.0%
0.0%
1994-95 1996-97
1995-96 1997-98
3.5%
3.2% 3.0%
7-8 Grades
12.2% 12.8% 11.5%
12.1%
0 High School
9.5%
8.8% 9.0% 8.5%
ID All Grades
Page 2
Dropout Rate Study
Arizona Department of Education
INTRODUCTION
Collection of dropout statistics in response to the need for more accurate, comparable and timely
student dropout information involves the cooperative efforts of local school districts, the ADE, the
Arizona Legislature and the United States Department of Education (USDOE). The present
emphasis on education reform demands greater attention to performance indicators. Dropout rates
in particular are frequently regarded as key indicators of the success or failure of a public school
system. Successful school completion has been selected as both a state and a national goal of
education reform efforts.
Dropout Data Reporting Requirement and Reporting Period
In 1987, the Arizona Legislature mandated the performance of an annual dropout rate study to
measure the success of dropout prevention efforts. All Arizona public school districts and charter
schools teaching students in grades 7 through 12 are required to submit dropout data annually. The
dropout rate study measures the proportion of students who drop out of school during a twelve-
month period, which begins the first day of summer recess and ends the last day of school.
Dropout data collected under Arizona law do not meet current federal dropout data definitions and
guidelines set forth by the USDOE. Thus, Arizona statistics are not comparable to dropout
statistics from other states using the USDOE standards.
DEFINITIONS
Enrollment is defined as the total count of students who were enrolled on the first day of summer
recess, or at any time during the following school year, and used as the population figure against
which dropouts are subsequently counted. Moreover, it is seen as a roster that changes continually
(even during the summer months) as students enroll, transfer to other schools, dropout or graduate.
Schools are responsible for monitoring and reporting their enrollment from the end of the prior
school year to the last day of the reported school year. Students who are promoted from elementary
feeder schools become the responsibility of the schools in which they are expected to enroll.
An unduplicated enrollment count is used to calculate dropout rates more accurately. For example,
a student who attends High School A in District X has the potential to be a dropout from that school
and is counted as one student served at High School A. If that student transfers midyear to High
School B, within the same district, the student now gains the potential of being counted as a
dropout at that school and is counted as a student served at High School B. However, at the district
level, the student should count as only one student served by District X in calculating the district
dropout rate. The means of ensuring an unduplicated student count at each level have been built
into the enrollment codes used by schools and districts statewide.
Ungraded secondary includes students who, due to individual needs/abilities, are assigned to
classes or programs without a standard grade designation.
Dropouts are defined as students who were enrolled in school at any time during the school year,
but were not enrolled at the end of the school year and did not transfer, graduate, or die.
Summer dropouts are defined as students who were enrolled at the end of the prior school year,
failed to enroll at the beginning of the following school year, and their absence cannot be explained
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9
Arizona Department of Education
Dropout Rate Study
by graduation, transfer or death. These students are counted as summer dropouts from the grades in
which they were expected to enroll.
Withdrawal type represents the unique withdrawal classifications used by school districts and
charter schools to provide insight into some of the conditions associated with student dropouts.
These specific codes differentiate the known dropouts (i.e., students who deliberately drop out of
school, are expelled and fail to return, or leave school due to illness) from the students whose status
is unknown. It is important to distinguish between known dropouts and students whose status is
unknown, because each situation is different from the other and requires a different course of action
to reduce the dropout rate.
Dropout rate is defined as the ratio of dropouts to enrollment, expressed as a percentage. The
number of dropouts in any particular district, grade, gender or racia1/ethnic category is compared to
the total enrollment in the same subgroup.
Status unknown rate is a subset of the dropout rate and is defined as the ratio of status unknown
students to the total enrollment, expressed as a percentage. A student is coded as status unknown by
a school district after accruing 10 consecutive days of unexcused absences, or when the student's
status or location is unknown to the district.
Applying the Dropout Definition
In general, a student is not counted as a dropout if there is documented evidence of transfer to
another elementary or secondary school. Some examples of applying the dropout definition to
determine a student's status are given below.
The following students are not counted as dropouts:
Students who leave school but return before the end of the same school year
Students who are remanded to an Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC)
Students who transfer to home-taught programs approved by county superintendents
Students enrolled in alternative education programs, if the programs are (1) administered
by the school district, or (2) approved by the district as full-time secondary education
programs
Students who do not return to school because they completed graduation requirements
during the summer or at mid-year
Students who enter early college admissions programs before graduating from high
school, if they are enrolled full-time in programs leading to a postsecondary degree
Students who leave school at age 22 and/or receive a completion credential, such as a
certificate of attendance
The following students are counted as dropouts:
1.
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