Pleasanton's High School Graduation Rates Surpass State Average

Nine out of every 10 high school seniors graduated last year at the Pleasanton Unified School District, according to new data released by the state superintendent's office.

The 95.7 percent graduation rate in Pleasanton surpasses the state average of 78.5 percent. In 2011, Pleasanton recorded nearly an identical figure to last year with a 95.6 graduation rate.

The dropout rate for the district last year was listed at 2.1 percent — which stayed the same from 2011.

The district's two main high schools all had graduation rates above the state average. State data shows Amador Valley High with a 98 percent graduation rate and Foothill High with a 98.9 graduation rate.

Overall, California's graduation rates rose while dropout rates declined.

The state superintendent's office reported 78.5 percent of students who started high school in 2008-2009 graduated last year. That was up 1.4 percentage points from the year before.

The superintendent's office reported 13.2 percent of students who began high school in 2008-2009 dropped out. That was down 1.5 percentage points from the year before.

Another 8.3 percent of students were labeled as neither dropouts nor graduates.

State Superintendent Tom Torlakson said while the trend is positive, California schools still need to do more. He said he'd like to see the graduation rate top 80 percent in the near future and then reach 90 percent by 2020.

He commended local school officials for improving education despite budget cuts the past few years and the fact California is 49th in the nation in education funding.

"As I travel up and down the state, I see great things happening in California schools every day," said Torlakson.