Graduation rates for Oregon high schools increased slightly in 2012, with 68.4 percent of students getting a diploma within four years.

That’s up from last year’s rate of 67.6 percent, according to data the Oregon Department of Education released today. The individual graduation rates for Central Oregon school districts were a mixed bag, with some districts, including Bend-La Pine Schools, faring better than the state average and other districts below.

The graduation rate examines a cohort, or group, of students who started high school on a specific year and earn a traditional high school diploma. The four-year graduation rate for 2012 is based on students who began as freshmen in the 2008-09 school year.

The state also tracks a five-year graduation rate, which is based on students in the cohort of 2007-08 who finished high school five years later in 2012. The 2012 five-year rate was 72.4 percent, up 1.5 percentage points from 70.9 percent in 2011.

“As a state, we have committed to an ambitious vision for education,” said Oregon Deputy Superintendent Rob Saxton in a statement. “That vision calls for all students completing high school and the vast majority of them going on to higher education or workforce training programs. Our current system just isn’t getting us there. Moving the dial on this will require rethinking how we serve our students from early childhood through higher education.”

Bend-La Pine Schools’ four-year graduation rate is 72.2 percent, also nearly 4 percentage points higher than the state average. The district also has increased its graduation rate by 4 percentage points compared to last year.

“Each of our high schools takes their graduation rate very seriously,” said Vicki Van Buren, assistant superintendent of secondary education for the district. “They pay a great deal of attention to it.”

Five-year rate

A combination of efforts is key to helping students, Van Buren said. On the front end, students are in challenging classes for the first time and need help. The other part is having plenty of options for students who need additional classes to get caught up, she said.

For example, students enrolled in challenging math classes may also take a second support class in math that reinforces the skills. Students falling behind can retake classes through a credit recovery program. Additionally, students can take online courses to get credits, Van Buren said.

For Redmond School District, the most accurate way of gauging student success is the five-year rate, said Superintendent Mike McIntosh. That’s because the school district has an advanced diploma program that students can choose that allows state funding to pay for college courses. Participating students take 27 credits of college classes through Central Oregon Community College, usually in their fifth year after finishing high school classes.

As a result, the students are not counted as graduates until after finishing the college courses in their fifth year.

Between 110 and 120 students participate in the advanced diploma program each year, McIntosh said. That amounts to 28 to 34 percent of the graduating class, he said.

“We don’t get to claim those kids until the fifth year cohort rate,” McIntosh said.

Redmond High School’s four-year graduation rate is just 44 percent, but its five-year graduation rate is 77.4 percent.

Sisters High School’s four-year graduation rate of 88.4 percent was the highest in Central Oregon.

“Connecting with all our kids on a personal basis — that’s the key — and letting them know there’s many options for them to graduate,” said Sisters Superintendent Jim Golden.

Among those options: The school district has an online program that students can use to make up classes.

The four-year graduation rate at Crook County School District is 62.4 percent. But Crook County High School is at 83.5 percent, while the rate at Pioneer Secondary Alternative High School is 27.9 percent.

In an emailed statement, Superintendent Duane Yecha said the district is encouraged by the Crook County High rate and proud of those efforts. The Pioneer school rate reflects most at-risk students because the school tracks data of students in a variety of alternative programs.

“Clearly, we need to address the completion rate of alternative education students,” Yecha said in a statement.

School districts — including those above the state average — don’t rest on their laurels.

Culver School District’s four-year rate is 75 percent, down 5 percentage points from 80 percent the prior year.

Superintendent Stefanie Garber said the goal is to continue improving the system until all students graduate. Economic situations play a role in academics, she said.

“Families are just struggling in general, and we’re seeing that impact student achievement,” she said.

4-year cohort graduation rates

62.4%

Down from 66.7%

75%

Down from 80%

72.2%

Up from 68.2%

The 4-year graduation rate for all area districts was 66.2 percent, up from 65.4 percent last year. See the full results by district and school on Page A5. Note that rates for five-year cohorts did not necessarily trend the same way as four-year cohorts.

58.3%

Up from 57%

46%

Down from 48.9%

High school graduation rates

The Oregon Department of Education has released district and high school graduation rates for the 2011-12 school year.

2011-122010-11District / school4-year5-year4-year5-yearBend-La Pine Schools72.2%72%68.2%75.7%Bend Senior High78.77773.876.6La Pine Senior High74.772.163.465.2Marshall High School*36.540.63451.3Mountain View High78.376.574.481Summit High88.377.775.986.4Crook County S.D.62.466.666.771.5Crook County High83.583.382.791.2Pioneer Secondary Alternative High*27.932.527.928Culver School District7581.58083.3Culver High7581.58083.3Jefferson County S.D.58.359.85763.6Madras High School58.359.85763.6Redmond School District4673.748.967.5Redmond Proficiency Academy59.589.672.558.8Redmond High4477.447.571.3Sisters School District88.38180.279.5Sisters High88.487.486.587.7Central Oregon average66.271.765.471.4State68.472.467.670.5

*Alternative high schools

Source: Oregon Department of Education

88.3%

Up from 80.2%