By Ashley Dunn
News Editor
PASCO COUNTY — The Pasco School district announced Dec. 4 that its graduation rate has improved and that the district performed about the state average during the 2008-09 school year.
The state uses three different calculations to measure graduation rates: the Florida graduation rate, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) rate; and the National Governors Association (NGA) rate.
Based on the Florida graduation rate, Pasco’s rate was 83.5 percent in 2008-09, up from up from 79.5 percent in 2007-08 and 73.7 percent in 2006-07. The state average was 78.6 percent.
Based on the NCLB rate, Pasco’s rate was 79.8 percent in 2008-09, up from 75.5 percent in 2007-08 and 69.2 percent in 2006-07. The state average was 76.2 percent.
Based on the NGA rate, Pasco’s rate was 77.8 percent in 2008-09, up from 73.4 percent in 2007-08 and 67.8 percent in 2006-07. The state average was 76.3 percent.
Schools with the highest graduation rates were: Wiregrass Ranch, 91.3 percent; Pasco, 91.3 percent; and River Ridge, 88.2 percent.
Additionally, Pasco’s dropout rate for 2008-09 was 1.2 percent, down from 2.1 percent in 2007-08. The state average was 2.3 percent. All of Pasco’s schools are below the state average. Six high schools had a dropout rate under 1 percent. They were: Wiregrass Ranch, 0.4 percent; Gulf, 0.5 percent; Hudson, 0.6 percent; Sunlake, 0.6 percent; Pasco 0.8 percent; and J.W. Mitchell, 0.9 pecent.
“We are extremely proud of our entire team for their concerted efforts to ensure the success of all students,” said Schools Superintendent Heather Fiorentino. “As we celebrate the hard work of our students, staff and other stakeholders, we are mindful that even one child failing to graduate has negative implications for that child and our community.”
