Innovation
High School Dropout Rates
Description: This indicator measures dropout rates, calculated from those who drop out during a single year from grades 7 through 12. The dashboard displays the dropout rates since the 1994-95 school year, for Arizona and for each of the 15 counties.
Rationale: Innovation requires the steady input of human capital into the workforce and into institutions of higher learning. The dropout rate provides an indication of youths inadequately prepared to enter the workforce.
Data Source: Arizona Department of Education, Research and Evaluation Section http://www.ade.az.gov/ResearchPolicy/DropoutInfo.
Comments on the Quality of the Data: The definition and calculation of the dropout rate has changed somewhat over time. Further, the dropout rate calculation is greatly hampered by the difficulty in tracking individual students over time. Two-thirds of those labeled as dropouts in reality are in the “status unknown” category. For example, a student who moves to another state without notifying his Arizona school is shown as a dropout. Thus, considerable caution is advised in using these data. Dropout rates have trended down over time, but it is not clear what proportion of the apparent improvement results from changes in the calculation of the dropout rate or from improved tracking of students.
