The four-year graduation rate in the Dubuque Community School District climbed to 91.49 percent for the class of 2014, up 2.36 percent from the previous year and higher than the state average of 90.5 percent. This new data was released today by the Iowa Department of Education.

“We are committed to preparing students to be college- and career-ready, and graduating from high school is certainly an important part of the equation,” said Superintendent of Schools Stan Rheingans. “The increase in our graduation rates should be a point of pride for not only for our high school teachers, principals and staff, but also for staff throughout the district. We believe the cumulative experience our students receive in the district greatly contributes to their success in high school and beyond.”

The Dubuque Community School District had the third-highest graduation rate among the state’s 10 largest urban school districts.

The new data also showed a decrease in Iowa’s overall dropout rate for students in grades 9-12. The 2013-2014 dropout rate in Dubuque was 2.2 percent, compared to the statewide rate of 2.7 percent.

“Our goal is always to provide each student with the resources and support they need to graduate,” said Rheingans. “We do this through many programs and partnerships, including success programs in our middle and high schools, our Connect and Alternative Learning Center Programs, Re-engage Dubuque, and an overall commitment to the success of every student.”

Iowa graduation rates are calculated with a formula established by the U.S. Department of Education. Unique student identification numbers allow school districts to carefully account for all ninth-grade students as they move through high school. At the state level, the method helps determine when a student graduates, even if the student has switched districts in Iowa during high school.

For more information, contact the DCSD School and Community Relations Office at (563)552-3020.

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