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Quality of Life Indicators

educational success data

educational attainment -- updated 2/10
high school dropout rates -- updated 6/17/10
high graduation rates -- updated 6/17/10
alternative educational opportunities -- updated 6/20/10
student test scores -- updated 6/18/10
UNR freshman attrition rates -- updated 6/18/10

educational attainment -- updated 2/10

The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey tracks the education level of those 25 years and older because of the relationship between income and workforce skills.

high school dropout rates -- updated 6/17/10

After having come down dramatically for more than a decade, the high school dropout rate increased for Nevada in 2007-08, albeit less of an increase for the WCSD. For more than a decade, concerted efforts from many groups of community collaborators have made a real difference. After recent improvements in the African American dropout rates, the 2008-09 rate doubled. According to the National Kids Count program, Nevada ranked 32nd in the country with a -31% change in the number of high school dropouts from 2000 (16%) to 2007 (11%), ages 16-19.

Clark County dropout rates:

high graduation rates -- updated 6/17/10

Staying in school is more important as the world and workforce becomes more complex. WSCD high school graduate rates continue to be higher than the state but declined for the 2008-09 school year, with less African American and White students graduating.

alternative educational opportunities -- updated 6/20/10

In 2008-09, there were 63,282 students enrolled in the Washoe County School District. Of that number, 1.8% of students were enrolled in alternative settings within the school district, with another 2,211 students enrolled in charter schools.

This does not include students who are being home-schooled or at private schools. The number of home-schooled students fluctuates from month to month.

GEDs are not included in WCSD data since they are not “diplomas.” In August 2005, the Washoe County Library, Community Resource Center, in collaboration with NNLC, began offering assessments and enrollments in the online GED study program. Statistics on the number passing the GED exam are not available, however 65 assessments were completed fiscal year 2006-07. Enrollment in the program has more than tripled with just 11 in 2005, 35 in 2006, and 46 as of December 2007. [Source: Washoe County Library, ]

student test scores -- updated 6/18/10

Over the years, the legislature has changed the standardized test to be used in schools. They’ve also changed the time of year that testing occurs. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA) makes further changes to the testing schedule and requirements.

In evaluating which indicators, if any, TMT will use to monitor student achievement in the future, the measures that must be reported should be taken into consideration. Per the NCLBA, according to the 2003-04 Accountability report, the WCSD has 15 schools in need of improvement. There were also 19 high achieving schools and two exemplary schools.

The high school proficiency pass rates are another option for monitoring student achievement. Washoe County students have higher pass rates than students state wide in all three proficiency areas. The 2007-08 school year was the first that the state “made adequate yearly progress.”

UNR freshman attrition rates -- updated 6/18/10

According to a recent study, just over 30% of students graduating from Nevada high schools in 2002 had achieved “readiness” to attend UNR or TMCC.

Source: Greene, J.P., & Winters, M.A. (2005, February). Public High School Graduation and College. Readiness criteria are based on meeting minimum admission standards at least selective four-year colleges:
1) regular high school diploma; 2) passing 4 years of English, 3 years of math, and 2 years each of natural sciences, social sciences, foreign language; and 3) passing basic level on the NAEP reading assessment (HSTS).
Note that foreign language is not required for a Washoe County high school diploma.

This seems to correlate with the numbers of WCSD graduates enrolled in the Nevada System of Higher Education throughout the state requiring remedial coursework.

The college-going rate of Nevada high school graduates rose to 45.3% in 2000 as the Millennium Scholarship was introduced. From 1996 to 2005, between 30% and 50% of graduates from Washoe County High Schools needed remedial courses in math, English, or both. UNR research source
Since that time, the number of new freshman is greater than the attrition rate. Retention may become harder at $142.75 per-credit-hour in-state undergraduate ($4,852.50 for 30 semester hours without fees), plus an estimated $1,300 for books and supplies, $1,600 for transportation and $2,578 for other expenses for one-year for a typical full-time undergraduate UNR student.