Grad rates move up
By Terry Murry on Thursday, January 21st, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
The Oregon Department of Education is releasing the high school graduation rates for districts throughout the state this morning (Thursday). Oregon’s average is 82.6 percent of the seniors graduated in four years.
HERMISTON – Hermiston High School beat the state average for the four-year completer rate with 89.4 percent of students graduating. Overall, the graduation rate is 83.7 for the Hermiston School District. That’s a 9.4 percent increase from the 2018-19 graduation rate.
The overall grad rate includes students who earned an extended diploma or GED and those who earned a standard or modified diploma or GED.
“This increase is reflective of the hard work of our staff and students,” Superintendent Tricia Mooney said. “Hiring staff to directly support secondary instruction and a graduation coach have made a strong impact on the number of students graduating from Hermiston High School. While we still have room for growth, it’s exciting to see efforts paying off.”
PENDLETON – The Pendleton School District graduation rates includes three high schools. In addition to Pendleton High School, its overall rate includes graduates at Nixyaawii Community School and Hawthorne Alternative School. That rate is 80.2 percent, down slightly over the state. Superintendent Chris Fritsch is pleased, however, because it’s an increase over the previous year’s average of 79.8.
“Especially considering the circumstances that we had to finish the year last year with the pandemic,” Fritsch said.
The Pendleton High School graduation rate is well above the state average at 90.4. In addition, the PHS five-year completer rate, which includes those who earned GEDs, is at 92.7 percent.
“Pendleton High School continues to be at 90 percent or above and that’s good,” Fritsch said. “Our five-year completer rate is positive as well.”
