Idaho grad rates: a look at the outliers

Kevin Richert | 09/24/2014

Idaho’s graduation rates dropped to a 10-year low in 2012-13 — and state officials say that reflects a new and tougher federal record-keeping requirement.

Still unchanged is Idaho’s goal: a 90 percent graduation rate, one of the federal government’s Adequate Yearly Progress benchmarks for Idaho.

Under the new rules, Idaho’s graduation rate tumbled to 83.6 percent. As recently as 2010-11, Idaho had exceeded the 90 percent goal, albeit under a less stringent scoring system.

While my main story looks at the bigger statewide trends, let’s look at the outliers, on the top and bottom of the scale.

Perfect scores

Nine small school districts scored 100 percent graduation rates in 2012-13: Aberdeen, Castleford, Garden Valley, Grace, Kootenai, Meadows Valley, Salmon River, Shoshone and South Lemhi.

Fourteen schools had 100 percent graduation rates: Aberdeen High School; Carey Public School; Castleford School; Garden Valley School; Grace Junior-Senior High School; Kootenai Junior-Senior High School; Leadore School; Meadows Valley School; Meridian Charter High School; Meridian Medical Arts Charter; Oakley Junior-Senior High School; Salmon River Junior-Senior High School; Shoshone High School; Taylor’s Crossing Charter School.

Low performers

The lowest performing schools, with graduating rates of under 50 percent, included 11 alternative high schools and five charter schools.

The alternative schools:

Lake Pend Oreille Alternative High School, Lake Pend Oreille district: 48.7 percent.
Ridgeline High School, Nampa district: 47.7 percent.
Franklin County High School, Preston district: 46.7 percent.
Eagle Academy, Meridian district: 46.4 percent.
The Atlas School, Middleton district: 46.4 percent.
Emerson High School, Idaho Falls district: 41 percent.
Black Canyon High School, Emmett district: 38.1 percent.
Fruitland Alternative High School, Fruitland district: 30.8 percent.
Jefferson Alternative High School, Jefferson County district: 26.7 percent.
Mount Harrison, Junior-Senior High School, Minidoka County district: 20.4 percent.
Independence Alternate High School, Blackfoot district: 17 percent.

The charter schools:

Richard McKenna Charter High School, Mountain Home: 46.5 percent.
Another Choice Virtual Charter School, Nampa: 37.2 percent.
Kaplan Academy of Idaho, Boise: 34.2 percent.
North Star Charter School, Eagle: 29.7 percent.
iSucceed Virtual High School, Boise: 16.4 percent.

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]