Graduation Rates

Claim: D49 Schools are failing our students because only 54% of seniors graduate.

Facts:

Fact 1: D49-Operated High Schools consistently graduate near or above 90% of seniors, which is above the Colorado state average.

Fact 2: Optional programs like concurrent enrollment, early college enrollment, ASCENT, and Alternative Education Campuses (AEC) are included into the authorizing district’s raw graduation rates.

Fact 3: Because D49 authorizes GOAL High school, a statewide alternative education charter school that serves high-needs students, the results from over 5,500 GOAL students are included in our district’s raw results.

Fact 4: GOAL is so large that the student population is more than Falcon, Sand Creek, and Vista Ridge combined.

Fact 5: GOAL, the largest alternative education campus in Colorado, has improved its performance since transferring authorization to District 49, and is earning the state’s highest rating possible for an AEC.

Fact 6: GOAL’s senior class of 2022 had 1,907 students compared to the 1,187 students in the rest of D49’s class of 2022. 

Fact 7: Adjusted 4-year graduation rates for D49 in 2022

• D49’s graduation rate is 89.9% when our two AEC schools and PPEC are not included. 
• D49’s graduation rate is 87.9% when our two AEC schools are not included. 
• D49’s graduation rate is 86.3% when GOAL is not included.

Evidence:

• CDE Graduation Rates:
  http://www.cde.state.co.us/code/gradvisual2122 
• CDE’s Historical GOAL performance:
  https://www.cde.state.co.us/schoolview/frameworks/official/1110/3475
• CDE Alternative Education Campus Accountability
  http://www.cde.state.co.us/accountability/stateaccountabilityaecs 

 

Conclusion:

Objective facts and evidence completely refute the accusation that D49 is failing our community. In schools operated by the district, our graduation rate is at 90%, and when we factor in concurrent enrollment, early colleges, and ASCENT programs, that score climbs to greater than 95% at most of our district-operated schools.

Yes, the inclusion GOAL, a state-wide public charter school, in District 49 has an impact on our overall graduation rate based on the state’s aggregate numbers. GOAL is an essential school for at-risk students from across the state that would not succeed in a traditional high school. Because we believe in choice and the education of all students, GOAL is an important institution in our portfolio of schools. 

 

	Class of 2022	Class of 2021	Class of 2020	Class of 2019
Colorado Average	82.3%	81.7%	81.9%	81.1%
Banning Lewis Ranch Academy	92.2%	87.5%
Falcon High School	89.1%	89.9%	91.4%	90.0%
GOAL Academy (AEC)	36.6%	31.3%	30.9%	19.2%
Patriot High School (AEC)	43.2%	33.3%	51.2%	59.5%
Pikes Peak Early College*	28.9%	60.4%	35.0%	30.0%
POWER Tech	87.5%	88.0%	100.0%	81.8%
Sand Creek High School	90.0%	85.6%	88.3%	83.3%
Springs Studio for Academic Excellence	98.4%	90.3%	88.7%	90.4%
Vista Ridge High School	88.7%	95.2%	90.9%	88.6%

*Pikes Peak Early College always has a low 4-year graduation rate due to the nature of the college course work the students participate in after the fourth year of high school, which pushes student graduation back a year or two. PPEC makes up for this in the 5- and 6-year graduation rates. See below.