FUSD Graduation Rates Increase 3.1%

Good news for Fresno Unified School District, for the 2013 to 2014 school year, graduation rates jumped up 3.1 percent to 79.3 percent. That’s quite an increase from the year before, which saw only a 1.2 percent jump, making school officials excited to see what’s to come.

It’s been years since Estela Delacruz graduated high school, but she still remembers how peer pressure made it difficult for many of her classmates.

"Some people just didn’t want to graduate or because of whether it be cool or not and some people just wanted to go with the flow and do what was in," Delacruz said.

But what was popular then may not be as trendy now, and the numbers seem to prove it.

"The 3.1 percent growth rate is higher than anybody that we actually benchmark against ourselves," FUSD Superintendent Michael Hanson said.

Hanson is celebrating their latest numbers in graduation rates. Improving in the most recent school year, 2013 – 2014, by 3.1 percent to 79.3%. And growing by over ten percent over the past five years.

It’s a growth he’s proud of.

"Given that we have some of the highest concentrated poverty and some of the most difficult challenges our students face across the entire state if not country," Hanson said.

Hanson credits the increase to hard work by students and staff and the improvements brought on by the FUSD Graduation Task Force.

"It became part of budget discussions and all the rest of that in the spring of 2012," Hanson said.

The task force gave a number of recommendations including monitoring attendance much more closely, the creation of the edu-text system, and increasing communication between the teacher and student.

But he says parents are also vital in making sure students succeed.

"Every day, saying ‘have a great day, you’re going to be great, do well, try your best,’" Hanson said.

Hanson was also proud to announce the high school dropout rate has gone down. It was at 15.6 percent and dropped down to 14 percent this past school year.