'We Have To Take Action': High School Dropout Rates

"An 18 percent (high school) dropout rate mean(s) we have to take action to help our students -- and our state's economy," said Tom Torlakson, state superintendent of public instruction.

Torlakson’s words came last week in a news release when he announced an initiative to help lower high school dropout rates through programs that offer career technical skills to California students.

"Career technical education is a proven way to ensure more of our students, especially those who are deemed 'at risk,' succeed after high school,” Torlakson said in a news release.

At the local level, the Lake Elsinore Unified School’s District’s high school dropout rate for the 2009-10 school year was 7.9 percent, well below the state’s figure of 18.2 percent and the county figure of 16.7 percent.

To help keep non-college-bound kids in school and teach them job skills, the LEUSD does offer some career technical education.

Lakeside High School senior Omar Ruiz has excelled in the school’s culinary career technical education program, according to district officials. Omar credits the CTE program for his success and his desire to follow in the footsteps of his brother, who is also a chef, according to the district.

Omar was named a February 2012 Student of the Month by the district. He does plan to attend community college after a culinary internship in Las Vegas this summer, district officials report.

In addition to culinary career training, the LEUSD has a lineup of CTE courses both on and off its high school campuses.

Temescal Canyon High School has also offered a California Partnership Academy, a statewide program supported by local business-education partnerships designed to give students practical experience beyond the classroom. At Temescal Canyon, the program’s theme has been health science and medical technology.

According to a 2011 study by the nonprofit Alliance for Excellent Education, keeping kids interested while in school is a win for students, districts (through increased funding), and the local economy. The study showed that a high school diploma can increase spending power for graduates, which means higher tax revenues for local jurisdictions.

In his State of the Union address, President Obama took on the dropout issue when he called on every state to require students to stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18.

"When students don't walk away from their education, more of them walk the stage to get their diploma," he said.