High School Dropout, Graduation, and Completion Rates

High school graduation and dropout rates have long been used as indicators of educational system productivity and effectiveness and of social and economic well being. While determining these rates may seem like a straightforward task, their calculation is in fact quite complicated. How does one count a student who leaves a regular high school but later completes a GED? How does one count a student who spends most of his/her high school years at one school and then transfers to another? If the student graduates, which school should receive credit? If the student drops out, which school should take responsibility? High School Dropout, Graduation, and Completion Rates addresses these issues and to examine (1) the strengths, limitations, accuracy, and utility of the available dropout and completion measures; (2) the state of the art with respect to longitudinal data systems; and (3) ways that dropout and completion rates can be used to improve policy and practice. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Dropout Rates, Graduation Rates, and Public Policy 3 Decisions Required to Compute the Indicators 4 Current and Proposed Measures 5 Early Warning Indicators 6 Developing Longitudinal Data Systems 7 Using Comprehensive Data Systems to Improve Public Policy and Practice 8 Summary of Recommendations References and Bibliography Appendix A: Workshop Agenda and Participants Appendix B: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff