2023 graduation rates in Oregon tie for second-highest: ODE

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon’s high school graduation rates remained steady in 2023 — tying the class of 2022 for the second highest on-time graduation rates ever reported in the state, the Oregon Department of Education announced Thursday.

The class of 2023 recorded an 81.3% on-time graduation rate overall, officials said, noting challenges the graduating class endured during the COVID pandemic.

“These 37,700 graduates overcame historic challenges to earn their diploma. During their journey to graduation the class of 2023 endured the full, multi-year impact of COVID and its aftermath,” said Dr. Charlene Williams, Oregon Department of Education Director.

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Some student groups saw record-high graduation rates including former English learners — students who have completed English Learner programs — at 87.6%, Special Education students at 68.6%, and homeless students at 60.6%, according to ODE data.

Exceeding the statewide average, students who completed two credits in a Career and Technical Education Program of Study graduated at a rate of 95%, officials said.

“Each diploma represents an inspiring step forward for a student, their loved ones, and their community. With impressive grit and resourcefulness, they worked their way through the jarring and isolating impacts of the pandemic to earn their education. We need to maintain high expectations and provide high levels of support that will lead to academic excellence for all of our students. Each and every child from birth through 5th grade must be set up for success in learning to read and reading to learn and be provided opportunities to find their path to graduation success and their dream career,” Dr. Williams continued.

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Oregon also reported graduation rates for the first time among three student groups, including military-connected students (86.7%), students with experience in incarceration or detention (35.8%), and students who recently arrived in the country (63.3%).

The department also reported some decreases in graduation rates for the class of 2023 among American Indian students (68.2%), Black and African American students (73.12%), and Hispanic and Latino students (78.6%), according to ODE data.

In the last nine years, ODE says they’ve seen significant progress in graduation rates of historically underserved students. The highest increase was among migrant students with an 18% increase up to 81.5% in 2023, followed by a 17.5% increase for students with disabilities with a 68.6% graduation rate in 2023, and English learners seeing a 16.4% increase with a 68.1% graduation rate in 2023.

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About 40% of students in public K-12 schools identified as students of color in the 2021-2022 school year based on federally identified race and ethnicity categories, ODE said.

Officials also highlighted the large percentage of economically disadvantaged students in the graduating class of 2023, which was reported at 74%.

Farley pointed out, “that particular percentage rate is high because it was based on a prior definition for the federal term ‘economically disadvantaged,’ which was associated with free and reduced-price lunch eligibility. That particular metric was inflated due to the impacts of the pandemic, so that particular statistic of 74% is not representative of poverty in Oregon…it’s representative of an extended eligibility process.”

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Dr. Williams noted several factors that impacted the graduation rate — including help from Oregon’s Ninth Grade On Track program, and the state recently relaxing some graduation requirements such as no longer needing to pass standardized tests involving essential learning skills.

“Assessments are a huge and important part of our work. It helps us take the temperature of the system, but it’s not the only story and we cannot completely dismiss the work that is happening day to day with our professionals,” Dr. Williams said. “We have to do a better job of helping make sure we calibrate all of that expertise at excellence, that we resource all of that expertise and excellence, but we definitely need to have a balanced conversation when it comes to assessment.”

“In terms of the assessment of essential skills policy specifically, ODE did some deep research in partnership with the Higher Education Coordinating Commission during the ’21-’22 school year where we were looking at a decade of data effectively, that demonstrated pretty clearly that the assessment of essential skills policy wasn’t impacting the predictability of student experiences or post-secondary outcomes,” Farley said.

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He added, “it ended up, based on our research and review, looking very much like a policy that really wasn’t doing what it’s intended purpose was, effectively, which was to ensure that students are graduating with knowledge and skills that they need to be able to pursue their post-secondary goals.”

Overall, ODE says on-time graduation rates have increased by about 1.1 percentage points every year since 2013-14 when the average graduation rate was 72%.

To improve rates, Dr. Williams is encouraging more partnerships to curb student absenteeism and to accelerate summer learning and after-school programs.

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In a statement, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek noted improved rates among some student groups but said more work needs to be done to boost the overall rate.

“I am never satisfied when it comes to our kids. We will continue working hard to improve results in the coming school years,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “Still, it’s important that we are seeing some positive results in key areas where the state has been targeting resources, such as career and technical education and supporting English Language Learners. This targeted approach to success is working for our students, so let’s do more of that, and I hope lawmakers support summer learning investment in the 2024 session.”

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