Kentucky Department of Education

News Release 03-042 -- July 30, 2003

            (FRANKFORT, Ky.) -- Data from the 2001-02 school year show that Kentucky's dropout rate among 9^th- to 12^th-graders decreased by nearly one point, the Kentucky Department of Education announced today.

            The state's school attendance rate increased by more than one-quarter of a point, while the percentage of students making a successful transition to adult life increased by more than one-half of a point. The state's retention rate decreased slightly.

Today's release of nonacademic data is one component of the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS). The other two components -- the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS) and Kentucky Core Content Test (KCCT) results -- will be released in August and October, respectively.

"We're very pleased that districts and schools have decreased the numbers of dropouts and retentions," said Kentucky Education Commissioner Gene Wilhoit. "This is a priority for the legislature, the Kentucky Board of Education and me, and educators are responding. These data show that we are making headway in keeping our students interested and engaged in school. The work of teachers and administrators to prevent dropouts is helping more students and keeping them in school."

Prior to 1998-99, if a student failed to return to school by October 1st, that student was considered a dropout for the past year and the grade which he or she had completed. Beginning in 1998-99, a student who failed to return to school by October 1st was considered a dropout for the grade and year for which he or she failed to return. Also beginning in 1998-99, dropout membership (enrollment) was adjusted to equal fall membership (enrollment). These adjustments were required to be consistent with the National Center for Education Statistics' (NCES) definition of "dropout."

Wilhoit noted that, although the news is good, there are areas of concern.

"Even though the dropout rate decreased overall and in most gender and ethnicity categories since 1999-2000, males continue to drop out at a greater rate than females. African American and Hispanic dropout rates are higher than white rates. "

DROPOUTS BY RACE AND GENDER