Five-year extended longitudinal graduation, completion, and dropout data are provided for the class of 2008 by ethnicity, gender, economic status, program participation (special education) and other student characteristics (limited English proficient). Some data are masked to comply with federal regulations concerning student privacy, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

A five-year extended longitudinal graduation rate is the percentage of students from a class of beginning ninth graders who graduate by the fall one year after their anticipated graduation date; that is, within five years of beginning ninth grade. A five-year extended longitudinal completion rate is the percentage of students from the same class who complete their high school education by the fall one year after their anticipated graduation date. Completion may be defined as graduating, continuing in high school in the fall after graduation was expected, or receiving a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. A five-year extended longitudinal dropout rate is the percentage of students from the same class who, by the fall one year after their anticipated graduation date, drop out before completing their high school education. Dropouts are counted according to the definitions in place the years they drop out. The definition changed in 2005-06. Longitudinal rates for classes in which the national dropout definition was phased in or fully incorporated (i.e., classes of 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009) are not comparable from one class to another, nor are they comparable to rates for prior classes.

The cohort for a five-year extended longitudinal rate is established when four-year rates are calculated and consists of the same students. Although no students are added to the statewide five-year cohort, a student's status or district may change based on fifth year attendance or performance. Because some students who continued high school in 2008 had left and not graduated, received GED certificates, or dropped out by 2009, the total number of students with final statuses at a campus, district, region, or the state may change between fall 2008 and fall 2009.

The reports show the results for the class of 2008 as of the fall after the class was expected to graduate (Fall 2008). After the cohort was followed for an additional school year in which students graduated, received GEDs, or dropped out, rates were again calculated. These rates are shown on the next line (Fall 2009).

As an example, the five-year extended longitudinal rate for graduates is calculated by dividing the number of students who graduated by the fall one year after their anticipated graduation date by the number of students in the class:

Select from the following to view or download a report for a statewide report or a single campus, district, or education service center (ESC) region: