Graduation Rates Increase for SFUSD Students

Press Release

State Updates SFUSD’s Grad Rate Resulting in Four Percentage Point Gain

August 3, 2015 (San Francisco) - The graduation rate for San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) has been adjusted to 83.9 percent, which is up from 81.7 percent the prior year.

“SFUSD’s graduation rate is a marked improvement over the 2012-13 graduation rate of 81.7 percent, and it’s better than the state of California’s graduation rate of 81 percent,” said Superintendent Richard A. Carranza.   “Considering that the class of 2014 was also the first class that had to complete more rigorous graduation requirements, we are particularly proud of the accomplishments of our students and staff.”

“SFUSD raised the bar and supported our students graduating better prepared for success in college and careers,” he added.  

In May, the California Department of Education initially reported SFUSD’s cohort graduation rate for the class of 2013-14 (the most recent year reported) as 79.9 percent, which was down from the year prior after five-plus years of climbing graduation rates.

School principals and district officials questioned the data, and after SFUSD officials closely audited student records, they found that some student information was missing or incorrect. The district accounted for each student in the four-year cohort reported, which resulted in the state correcting its reports.  

“We want all of our students to graduate ready for college and career options. For the past several years we have seen our graduation rate climb to a rate higher than many urban school districts in the nation. I am proud of the great strides we have made in SFUSD and thank everyone who made this possible,” said Board President Dr. Emily Murase. 

The adjusted report shows every subgroup made gains with the exception of African-American students, Pacific Islander students, and students receiving special education services.

“We cannot overemphasize the importance of working together to ensure that we improve outcomes for our African-American students while continuing to ensure the success of all of our students,” said Superintendent Carranza. “Graduation is a cumulative measure: it’s not just a measure of high school but of everything that came before in a student’s life. There is an unprecedented level of support and coordination in San Francisco focused on the success of African-American youth. We are committed to ensuring all of our African-American students walk across the stage at graduation.”

Several high schools saw large gains in their graduation rates. O’Connell High School saw an increase of 7.6 percentage points, from 72.7 to 80.3 percent, and Wallenberg High School’s graduation rate increased from 86.8 to 94.1 percent. In all, ten of SFUSD’s fifteen comprehensive high schools showed gains, and principals at many of these schools speak to how they worked closely with students from the time they entered as freshmen, monitoring and supporting students who strayed off track. 

Find more information about SFUSD’s graduation rates, including data by subgroups, on the California Department of Education’s DataQuest site.

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Page updated on 08/03/15