| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 04/06/2015
Contact: LDOE Public Affairs, (225) 342-3600, Fax: (225) 342-0193 |
| HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE REACHES ALL-TIME HIGH Greatest Gains Seen Among Students with Disabilities and Students of Color |
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| BATON ROUGE, La. - The Louisiana Department of Education today announced Louisiana's four-year high school graduation rate achieved a record high in 2014, increasing for the fourth straight year to reach 74.6 percent, a 1.1 percentage point increase from 2013 and a 3.2 percentage point increase since 2011. The 2014 graduation rate of 74.6 percent marks a nearly 10 percentage point increase in less than a decade. In the class of 2014, nearly 1,600 more students graduated than did in the class of 2013, and nearly 3,440 more students than in 2011. Of the nearly 1,600 additional students graduating in 2014, more than 1,200 are of a minority racial group and more than 1,230 are from low-income backgrounds. Graduation rates for students of color improved by 2 percentage points, nearly doubling the state's overall improvement. From 2013 to 2014, the graduation rate for students with disabilities also significantly improved, seeing a 6.1 point increase. "This increase in the number of students graduating from high school in four years is a great sign for our state and a true testament to the hard work and devotion teachers, principals, and families across Louisiana," said State Superintendent John White. "The increases realized by our districts and schools are more evidence our state cannot afford to go backwards." |
| Historical Statewide Cohort Graduation Rates:
| Year |
Cohort Graduation Rate |
Percentage Point Change (From Previous Year) |
| 2000-2001 |
61.3% (unofficial) |
NA |
| 2005-2006 |
64.8% (unofficial) |
NA |
| 2006-2007 |
66.3% |
1.5 |
| 2007-2008 |
66.0% |
-0.3 |
| 2008-2009 |
67.3% |
1.3 |
| 2009-2010 |
67.2% |
-0.1 |
| 2010-2011 |
71.4% |
3.7 |
| 2011-2012 |
72.3% |
0.9 |
| 2012-2013 |
73.5% |
1.2 |
| 2013-2014 |
74.6% |
1.1 |
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| District Successes Districts made great strides in improving student outcomes. In 2013-2014, thirty-two (32) districts posted cohort graduation rates above 80 percent, up from 13 in 2011. Additionally, 52 districts increased their cohort graduation rates from 2013 to 2014, with 47 of those districts increasing at a rate faster than the state increase of 1.1 percentage points. Top 10 Districts Based on 2014 Cohort Graduation Rate:
| District |
2014 Cohort Graduation Rate |
| DeSoto Parish |
94.5% |
| Beauregard Parish |
93.2% |
| West Feliciana Parish |
92.3% |
| LaSalle Parish |
90.3% |
| Cameron Parish |
89.5% |
| Jefferson Davis Parish |
89.4% |
| Vermilion Parish |
89.4% |
| Orleans Parish (historically struggling schools in RSD removed) |
89.0% |
| Sabine Parish |
88.8% |
| Zachary Community Schools |
88.5% |
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| Districts with Three Consecutive Years of Improvement in Graduation Rates:
| District |
Cohort Graduation Rate (One Year Improvement) |
| Desoto Parish |
94.5% (+14.1%) |
| Sabine Parish |
88.8% (+9.0%) |
| St. John the Baptist Parish |
77.4% (+5.1%) |
| East Carroll Parish |
84.8% (+4.4%) |
| RSD - Louisiana |
65.2% (+4.3%) |
| St. Mary Parish |
81.0% (+3.9%) |
| Acadia Parish |
85.2% (+3.8%) |
| LaSalle Parish |
90.3% (+3.8%) |
| Caddo Parish |
67.7% (+3.7%) |
| Washington Parish |
85.4% (+3.7%) |
| Iberville Parish |
77.2% (+3.2%) |
| Beauregard Parish |
93.2% (+3.0%) |
| Avoyelles Parish |
70.7% (+2.2%) |
| St. Bernard Parish |
79.0% (+1.7%) |
| Allen Parish |
86.7% (+1.6%) |
| Assumption Parish |
88.0% (+1.6%) |
| Vermilion Parish |
89.4% (+0.4%) |
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| Increased Graduation Leads to Increased College Enrollment Last week, the Department announced a record high number of public high school graduates matriculating to college. From 2013 to 2014, the number of graduates enrolling in college increased six percent, from 21,744 in 2013 to 22,972 in 2014. Since 2011, that number has increased by 3,146 students, or 16 percent, from 19,826. To view state and district Cohort Graduation Rates, please click here. |
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