Student Dropout Report Frequently Asked Questions

Student Dropout Report Frequently Asked Questions

Who is a high school dropout?

State law (70 OS 35E) defines a dropout as “any student who is under the age of 19 and has not graduated from high school and is not attending any public or private school or is otherwise receiving an education pursuant to law for the full term of the school district in which he/she resides are in session.”

NCES further defines a dropout as an individual who: 1.) was enrolled in school for some time during the previous school year; and 2.) was not enrolled at the beginning of the current school year; and 3.) has not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district- approved educational program; and 4.) does not meet any of the following exclusionary conditions: a) transfer to another public school district, private school, or state- or district- approved educational program (including correctional or health facility programs); b) temporary absence due to suspension or school-excused illness; or c) death.

How is high school dropout information collected?

Per law (70 OS 35E), each accredited Oklahoma school with students in any of the Grades 7 - 12 must report dropouts to the Oklahoma State Department of Education on an annual basis in the month of October. The schedule for reporting student dropouts is October 1 of one school year through September 30 of the following school year.

What is the difference between the high school dropout rate and the graduation rate?

The graduation rate and dropout rate reported for Oklahoma are related but are not the same. The state reported high school dropout rate reflects the percentage of students in Grades 9-12 under the age of 19 who drop out of school during the time span of one federal fiscal year. The rate provides a snapshot of students who drop out within a one-year period. It is an annual collection. Graduation Rate is a four-year data collection and reflects the percentage of a cohort of students (i.e. the Class of 2012) who do not graduate. The graduation rate provides a view of students over their 4-year high school timeline and those who graduate.

Where can I find the previous year's dropout report?

The schedule for reporting student dropouts is October 1 of one school year through September 30 of the following school year. Data for the previous school year will be available after October 1 of the current school year once data has been reviewed and confirmed by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. To view published dropout data, visit the Student Dropout Reports webpage. For more explicit school level-data, you may use this link to complete an Open Records Request form.