Number of Iowa high school dropouts increases during 2008-09 school year

The number of high school dropouts in Iowa increased slightly last year, according to numbers released by the Iowa Department of Education.

The department reports that 4,782 students dropped out of school during the 2008-09 school year. This is an increase of 344 students from the year before.

At the same time, the public high school graduation rate for 2009 is 87.2 percent, which is a slight decrease from last year's 88.7 percent.

While the information for both reports is accurate, state education officials urge caution in comparing the class of 2009 to previous classes because the state changed how it calculates this information.

For the first time, the department used a formula adopted by the National Governors Association to determine the high school graduation rate, which requires states to assign each student a unique state identification number. This allows school districts to track each ninth grader as they progress through high school. The number also helps determine when a student graduates, even if they moved to a different school district in the state.

In Iowa, school districts have used student identification numbers since 2004.

Iowa Department of Education Director Judy Jeffrey said the formula provides a common platform for state-to-state comparisons and a more accurate account of the achievement of Iowa high school students.

The formula shows a four-year completion rate of 87.2 percent for the class of 2009. In Cedar Rapids, the 2009 graduation rate is 80.09 for the Cedar Rapids district and 86.03 percent for College Community.

Clear Creek Amana's 2009 graduation rate is 96.52 percent and Iowa City's is 91.78 percent.

Linn-Mar students posted a 90.91 percent graduation rate. Marion's rate is 95.51 percent.

Each district saw graduation rates decrease from 2008 to 2009. Elaine Watkins-Miller, spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Education, said the NGA formula sets a new baseline for comparing future graduation rates.

“Next year we will be able to see if the decline in graduation rates is just a blip because of the calculation or if it is a trend,” she said.

State educators gave the same argument when they released the 2007-08 dropout numbers were released. At that time, they said the student ID system provided more accurate information than aggregated numbers.

Watkins-Miller said the numbers are accurate, but stressed that other factors need to be considered.

“Dropouts are an annual event,” Watkins-Miller said. “For example, a student may drop out during the year, then come back, and then drop out again the next year. Each year they would be counted as a drop out.”