School District graduation rate hits a record 82.7 percent

The Clark County School District is graduating high school students at a record rate, according to data released today.

A total of 82.7 percent of seniors — 20,030 across the district’s four dozen-plus high schools — earned diplomas in the 2016-2017 school year, officials said. That’s up from just under 75 percent the previous school year and 72 percent in 2014-2015.

The graduation rate has grown more than 23 percent since 2011.

“We’ve made this a part of our strategic plan. It’s part of how we do business, and the focus won’t ever move away from graduation,” said Mike Barton, the district’s chief academic officer. “I give great credit to the people in our schools, including teachers, administrators and support staff.”

Barton said the district has worked to decrease the number of “unsuccessful transfers” — students who leave school without notifying administrators and later can’t be found. Those students count against a school’s graduation rate.

Barton said while the district’s ultimate goal is a 100 percent graduation rate, 90 percent “would not be out of the question in the next year or two.”

“We’re pleased, but we’re not satisfied,” Barton said. “We know this can continue to improve.”

The Nevada Department of Education also praised the reported CCSD increase, calling the uptick a "concerted effort” on behalf of the state and the district to improve graduation rates.

"There has been a focus to getting kids through school with their diplomas,” said department spokesman Greg Bortolin. “That’s the goal of the state and we believe more kids with diplomas will kickstart our economy."