By Caleb Campbell
Frankfort, KY – Data compiled by the Kentucky Department of Education shows that the state's high school students are graduating at a lower rate, but are also dropping out of school at a lower rate. The non-academic data was released in a report today (Tuesday). Spokesperson Lisa Gross says dropout rates in Kentucky have declined by more than one-percent since 2002.
"We've still got a long way to go. Especially when the drop-out rate for African-American students is almost five-percent. We have a fairly small population of African-Americans in this state in our public schools. Five-percent of them are dropping out. That's too much. That's too high. We need to address that."
The numbers released today (Tuesday) also show the graduation rate decreasing from 84-point-five-two percent in 2008 to 83-point-nine-one percent last year. Retention rates - the number of students held back a grade - also increased by point-two percent.