Oregon Needs ‘Significant Work’ To Raise Graduation Rates

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – An audit found Oregon’s Department of Education only made limited progress in addressing the state’s dismal high school graduation rates.

The secretary of state’s office said Wednesday that “significant work is needed” if Oregon wants to improve the number of high schoolers graduating within four years.

The report found the state only implemented less than half of the recommendations issued in response to a 2017 audit, which found the Department of Education wasn’t doing enough to support low-income and transfer students.

Oregon has one of the lowest graduation rates in the country at 78.7 percent for the class of 2018. Although that number is an improvement over years’ past, it’s still six percentage points below the national average.

The Secretary of State’s office said one in five public high school students don’t graduate within four years.