RIVERSIDE – (INT) - The Riverside County high school graduation rate of 90.1% for the class of 2019 is #1 among the top 10 largest comparison counties in California for the first time in history, according to data released Thursday.

The improvement has increased substantially since the class of 2010 posted a 77.7% graduation rate.

Conversely, the dropout rate in Riverside County reached a historic low of 4.6%—also the lowest rate among the largest 10 counties in California.

“We will continue our focused work until every student graduates from high school academically and socially prepared for college, the workforce, and civic responsibility,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Judy D. White.

Other highlights:
· Statewide graduation rate in California is 84.5%
· 16 of the 18 districts with high schools in Riverside County have graduation rates above the state average
· This is the first time Riverside County has achieved a dropout rate below 5%
· Statewide dropout rate in California is 9%
· 15 of the 18 districts with high schools in Riverside County have dropout rates lower than the state average
· Hispanic students – 89.1% graduation rate (State rate is 82.1%)
· African American students – 88.3% graduation rate (State rate is 76.8%)
· Socioeconomically disadvantaged students – 88.1%
· Homeless students – 82%
· English learners – 79.7%
· Among the school districts,largest graduation rate gain from 2018 to 2019
· San Jacinto USD – 88.7% to 94.2%
· Riverside USD – 91.1% to 95.2%
· Largest graduation rate gain from 2010-2019
· Moreno Valley USD – 65.7% to 91.2%
· San Jacinto USD – 72.8% to 94.2%
· Nearly half of class of 2019 graduates (45.4%) in Riverside County met requirements for admission to either the UC or CSU system.

In the San Bernardino City Unified School District, the high school graduation rate increased to 93.6 percent for the Class of 2019, continuing a five-year upward trend, according to the California Department of Education.

Story Date: December 18, 2019