LAUSD SEEING FEWER DROPOUTS; REPORT SAYS 8.8% RATE FOR HIGH SCHOOLS BEST IN 5 YEARS.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

Nearly 9 percent of Los Angeles Unified high school students dropped out last year, the district's best record in five years, according to a report released today.

But although the state Department of Education report showed steady improvement for the Los Angeles Unified School District, its 8.8 percent dropout rate is still more than double the state's 3.9 percent rate and higher than the county's 5.4 percent rate.

The news comes a month after the state reported that 36.5 percent of L.A. Unified's high school students dropped out during the four years ending last year.

The latest report covers dropout rates for students in grades seven through 12 from the 1991-92 through 1995-96 school years.

``I'm pleased they have dropped,'' said Beth Newman, the district's director of educational options, which includes continuation high schools and other alternative programs for potential dropouts.

But she added, ``It's still too high; there should be no dropouts.''

Newman attributed the high dropout rates to the district's massive size and the poverty of its students who come from families with limited English skills.

Statewide, the dropout rates gradually have decreased from 5.2 percent in 1991-92 to 3.9 percent last year.

``This good news makes me confident that we should increase standards and call for higher graduation requirements,'' said Delaine Eastin, state superintendent of public instruction.

Local and state education officials attribute L.A. Unified's improving dropout rates to alternative programs that target students in middle school, when they first begin showing signs of dropping out.

Of the district's 650,000 students, about 12,000 to 14,000 enroll each year in the district's 43 continuation high schools, six ``opportunity schools'' for students in grades seven through 12 who have behavior problems, and two schools for pregnant teens.

Next fall, the district plans to serve up to 500 more potential dropouts at its community day schools. These schools typically serve students who are on probation or have been expelled from regular classes, Newman said. She said the move will help improve the district's dropout rates by giving the students more personal attention.

Dave Myklebust, a specialist in the district's information technology division, said annual dropout statistics provide a wake-up call for local educators.

``It helps them see where they are, where they are in relation to other schools and in relation to where they were last year,'' Myklebust said. ``They see the numbers, scratch their heads and wonder what's going on and try to make (the rates) lower.''

Richard Diaz, a consultant who oversees the state's annual dropout rate report, said the district is headed in the right direction but needs to continue expanding its dropout prevention programs if it wants to see more students graduate.

``They are to be commended for making an effort. Their numbers are slightly down,'' Diaz said. ``But it's a big situation and it requires more financing. A lot more is needed to bring along all those dropout prevention and alternative programs.''

DROPOUT RATES

These are dropout rates for the 1994-95 and 1995-96 school years for the state, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles Unified School Disitrct and other local school districts. The figures reflect the most recent data and include students who drop out in grades nine through 12.

1994-95 1995-96

CALIFORNIA 4.4 3.9

L.A. COUNTY 6.6 5.4

L.A. UNIFIED 10.7 8.8

BURBANK UNIFIED 3.1 2.3

GLENDALE UNIFIED 0.9 0.4

SIMI VALLEY UNIFIED 1.8 2.1

CONEJO VALLEY UNIFIED 1.8 1.4

HART UNION 2.8 1.8

LAS VIRGENES UNIFIED 0.4 0.3

ANTELOPE VALLEY UNIFIED 1.6 1.1

Source: California Department of Education 

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chart

Chart: Dropout rates (see text)