Portland HS Graduation Rates Inch Up Again, 22-Point Rise in Seven Years

The high school graduation rate for Portland Public Schools rose to 75.46 percent - a nearly two percent hike, continuing a trend that has seen the rate rise 22-percent over the past seven years. It also puts the district's graduation rate nearly one percent ahead of the state average.

District officials point out that it was just seven years ago that the district was 11 percent below the state average. Portland's gains have outpaced the state's for each of the last four years.

"We're pleased to continue to be making progress on our 4-year cohort graduation rate, said Interim Superintendent Bob McKean. "While we’re encouraged to see these consistent gains, there’s still work to be done and we need to continue to accelerate our work."

The state is holding up Wilson High School as a success story. For the second year in a row, the school had an on-time graduation rate of 90 percent. Also, 100 percent of the school's African-American/Black students graduated on-time. The graduation rate for the school's economically disadvantaged students has risen by nearly 30 percent over the past eight years.

The news statewide was good but shows how much more work the state still has to do.

The state saw a one percent increase in the graduation rate - to 74.8 percent from 73.8 percent. Overall, the state says that 1,300 more students graduated last year than had the year before.

"It shows the dedication of our teachers and school administrators that graduation rates are increasing across the board," said Deputy Superintendent Salam Noor. "We are making progress, while recognizing there is still more work to do.

"We are pleased our state's focus on improving graduation outcomes for all students is making a difference."

Highlights of the report include significant gains in the student groups where the largest graduation gaps exist:

• African American students up 3.6 points to 66.1 percent (53.3 percent in 2011)
• American Indian/Alaska Native students up 1.4 points to 56.4 percent (50.8 percent in 2011)
• Hispanic/Latino students up 2.0 points to 69.4 percent (59.5 percent in 2011)
• Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students up 6.9 points to 70.1 percent (66.2 percent in 2011)
• Ever English Learners (students who are now or ever have been classified as English Language Learners) up 4.2 points to 71.1 percent (58.0 percent in 2012, the first year of data collection for that group)
• Limited English Proficient students up 1.7 points to 52.9 percent (49.2 percent in 2011)
• Students with disabilities up 2.8 points to 55.5 percent (38.2 percent in 2011)

In addition, every other student demographic group demonstrated gains:

• Asian students up 0.5 points to 88.0 percent (80.7 percent in 2011)
• White students up 0.6 points to 76.6 percent (69.1 percent in 2011)
• Multi-Racial students up 1.7 points to 74.4 percent (69.1 percent in 2011)
• Female students up 0.6 points to 78.4 percent (72.9 percent in 2011)
• Male students up 1.3 points to 71.4 percent (64.3 percent in 2011)

"Closing the achievement gap is crucial to ensuring education equity in Oregon," said Noor. "Although many of the gaps remain large, it is good news for all Oregonians when the disparity in graduation rates decreases.

"It is critical that we continue to work together to help Oregon students achieve at their highest potential."

While the state has seen its graduation rate rise three percent over the past three years, the state still has its work to do. Most states have yet to release their 2016 graduation rates, in 2015 - the last year for which information for all states is available, Oregon ranked 48 out of 50.

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