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District posts mostly strong graduation and completer rates; ninth‑grade on‑track remains focus
Summary
District leaders reported an 83 percent four‑year graduation rate across the district for 2023–24, higher rates at West and South and a substantially higher five‑year completer rate; staff said ninth‑grade on‑track percentages are being targeted to raise future graduation rates.
District staff presented graduation and completer statistics and described work to raise ninth‑grade on‑track rates to improve long‑term graduation outcomes.
For the 2023–24 cohort, staff reported an 83 percent four‑year graduation rate districtwide. School‑level rates cited were 87 percent at South Albany High School, 94 percent at West Albany High School and 36 percent at Albany Options School (AOS). District staff noted AOS serves a higher‑need cohort and added that AOS had a 75 percent rate of diploma or GED completion when GEDs and other completer pathways are included.
The district's five‑year completer rate (which includes GED completions) was reported at 91 percent overall, with South at 91 percent, West at 97 percent and AOS at 81 percent. Subgroup rates were highlighted: Hispanic/Latino students and career‑technical education participants outperformed state averages in several measures; students with disabilities and some other groups lagged the state metric in particular years and will be a focus for interventions.
Staff emphasized ninth‑grade on‑track as a leading indicator. The district reported a ninth‑grade on‑track rate of about 78 percent; staff said that cohort later produced the 83 percent graduation rate, which shows there is still room to recover credits across high school years but that improving ninth‑grade on‑track would reduce the need for later credit recovery. Administrators described several initiatives to improve on‑track rates, including work with the Center for High School Success, a night‑school credit recovery pilot at South, and a move to a block schedule at South that increases credit earning opportunities.
Trustees asked how those initiatives would trend over time; staff said improving ninth‑grade supports and the block schedule at South should increase credit opportunities and graduation rates over the next several years.
No formal board action was taken; staff said they will continue focused work on ninth‑grade supports and report back on changes in on‑track and graduation metrics.
