49 Answers Overview

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49 Answers: Graduation Rates

  • Claim: D49 Schools are failing our students because only 54% of seniors graduate.

    Facts:

    49answersFact 1: D49-Operated High Schools consistently graduate near or above 90% of seniors, which is above the Colorado state average.

    Fact 2: Optional programs like concurrent enrollment, early college enrollment, ASCENT, and Alternative Education Campuses (AEC) are included into the authorizing district’s raw graduation rates.

    Fact 3: Because D49 authorizes GOAL High school, a statewide alternative education charter school that serves high-needs students, the results from over 5,500 GOAL students are included in our district’s raw results.

    Fact 4: GOAL is so large that the student population is more than Falcon, Sand Creek, and Vista Ridge combined.

    Fact 5: GOAL, the largest alternative education campus in Colorado, has improved its performance since transferring authorization to District 49, and is earning the state’s highest rating possible for an AEC.

    Fact 6: GOAL’s senior class of 2022 had 1,907 students compared to the 1,187 students in the rest of D49’s class of 2022. 

    Fact 7: Adjusted 4-year graduation rates for D49 in 2022

    • D49’s graduation rate is 89.9% when our two AEC schools and PPEC are not included. 
    • D49’s graduation rate is 87.9% when our two AEC schools are not included. 
    • D49’s graduation rate is 86.3% when GOAL is not included.

    Evidence:

     

    Conclusion:

    Objective facts and evidence completely refute the accusation that D49 is failing our community. In schools operated by the district, our graduation rate is at 90%, and when we factor in concurrent enrollment, early colleges, and ASCENT programs, that score climbs to greater than 95% at most of our district-operated schools.

    Yes, the inclusion GOAL, a state-wide public charter school, in District 49 has an impact on our overall graduation rate based on the state’s aggregate numbers. GOAL is an essential school for at-risk students from across the state that would not succeed in a traditional high school. Because we believe in choice and the education of all students, GOAL is an important institution in our portfolio of schools. 

     

CDE 4-Year Graduation Rates

  •          
      Class of 2022 Class of 2021 Class of 2020 Class of 2019
    Colorado Average 82.3% 81.7% 81.9% 81.1%
    Banning Lewis Ranch Academy 92.2% 87.5%    
    Falcon High School 89.1% 89.9% 91.4% 90.0%
    GOAL Academy (AEC) 36.6% 31.3% 30.9% 19.2%
    Patriot High School (AEC) 43.2% 33.3% 51.2% 59.5%
    Pikes Peak Early College* 28.9% 60.4% 35.0% 30.0%
    POWER Tech 87.5% 88.0% 100.0% 81.8%
    Sand Creek High School 90.0% 85.6% 88.3% 83.3%
    Springs Studio for Academic Excellence 98.4% 90.3% 88.7% 90.4%
    Vista Ridge High School 88.7% 95.2% 90.9% 88.6%
             

    *Pikes Peak Early College always has a low 4-year graduation rate due to the nature of the college course work the students participate in after the fourth year of high school, which pushes student graduation back a year or two. PPEC makes up for this in the 5- and 6-year graduation rates. See below. 

CDE 5 / 6-Year Graduation Rates

  •        
    5-Year Graduation Rates Class of 2021 Class of 2020 Class of 2019
    Colorado Average 85.7% 86.0% 85.1%
    Banning Lewis Ranch Academy 92.6% NA NA
    Falcon High School 92.1% 95.4% 94.9%
    GOAL Academy (AEC) 38.0% 36.4% 36.9%
    Patriot High School (AEC) 52.9% 75.0% 77.5%
    Pikes Peak Early College 100.0% 100.0% 61.2%
    POWER Tech 91.7% 100.0% 81.8%
    Sand Creek High School 89.1% 93.3% 89.0%
    Springs Studio for Academic Excellence 96.6% 98.2% 98.5%
    Vista Ridge High School 95.5% 93.8% 90.9%
     
    6-Year Graduation Rates   Class of 2020 Class of 2019
    Colorado Average   87.1% 86.6%
    Banning Lewis Ranch Academy   NA NA
    Falcon High School   96.2% 96.0%
    GOAL Academy (AEC)   39.7% 31.2%
    Patriot High School (AEC)   80.0% 79.1%
    Pikes Peak Early College   100.0% 98.0%
    POWER Tech   100.0% 81.8%
    Sand Creek High School   94.0% 90.1%
    Springs Studio for Academic Excellence   98.2% 100.0%
    Vista Ridge High School   93.8% 92.3%