Diploma rate up; dropout rate falls

However you measure it, the Pasco County school district improved its graduation rate in 2008-09 and beat the state average, according to data released Friday by the school district and the state.

"We are so excited," Superintendent Heather Fiorentino said. "Every school has improved, and we are above the state average on the graduation rate and below the state average on the dropout rate."

There are a variety of ways to measure graduation rates, and the data the state Department of Education released Friday included three different calculations.

Based on the Florida graduation rate the state has traditionally used, Pasco's rate was 83.5 percent, up from 79.5 percent in 2007-08 and 73.7 percent in 2006-07.

In addition to Florida's own calculation, the department included the graduation rates as determined by No Child Left Behind and by the National Governors Association. The latter measurement, which doesn't include GED recipients, has now become the official Florida calculation.

Using the National Governors Association standards, Pasco's rate was 77.8 percent, up from 73.4 percent in 2007-08 and 67.8 percent in 2006-07. The state average was 76.3 percent.

"Either way you look at it, that was a tremendous increase on our part," said John Mann, the district's director of leadership development.

Based on the No Child Left Behind calculation, Pasco's rate was 79.8 percent, up from 75.5 percent in 2007-08 and 69.2 percent in 2006-07. The state average was 76.2 percent.

Meanwhile, Pasco's dropout rate for 2008-09 was 1.2 percent, compared with a state average of 2.3 percent. The Pasco rate was down from 2.1 percent in 2007-08.

"We try not to allow our students to leave," Fiorentino said.

The superintendent credited the district's low dropout rate to Ramon Suarez, who oversees dropout prevention for the district. She said he has been working with all the high schools, helping them reach out to the students.

"Whatever Ramon is doing, he's done a phenomenal job," Fiorentino said.

The district noted that six high schools had dropout rates that were less than 1 percent. They were Wiregrass Ranch High, 0.4 percent; Gulf High, 0.5 percent; Hudson High, 0.6 percent; Pasco High, 0.8 percent; and Mitchell High, 0.9 percent.

Although most of the dropout-prevention focus is at the high school level, the district also provides some assistance at elementary and middle schools. Often academics aren't the only reason a student might be at risk of dropping out, Fiorentino said.

Problems at home, such as a divorce or the death of a parent, can contribute, she said.