Walnut Valley posts impressive 96.7 percent graduation rate

For the first time, California has followed a group of students from the beginning of their freshman year through high school based on identification numbers assigned to each student.

Using data culled from the study, state education officials have calculated new dropout and graduation rates for the state, counties and school districts. Using the new data and a new formula, they say it’s the most accurate information yet collected.

Statewide, the dropout rate for the 2009-10 school year came in at 18.2 percent, while the graduation rate was 74.4 percent. Data for the 2010-11 school year is not yet available.

In Los Angeles County, the dropout rate was about two points higher, coming in at 20.3 percent. The graduation rate was 71.3 percent.

Rates across the San Gabriel Valley proved to be better than both the county and state averages. Walnut Valley Unified stands out for having a 96.7 percent graduation rate, the highest in the San Gabriel Valley.

Nearby districts like Rowland Unified had a 82.3 percent graduation rate, while Hacienda La Puente Unified posted a 76.3 graduation rate.

Read about the rates in J.D. Velasco’s story Dropout.