SFUSD graduation rates on the rise

More students in San Francisco are graduating, including minority, immigrant, disabled and homeless students, San Francisco Unified School District officials announced Thursday.

According to graduation rates released Thursday by California Department of Education, 85.5 percent of students in the city graduated last school year, a one percent increase from the previous 2016-2017 school year.

“We are pleased to see an increase in the graduation rate for the entire district, as well as among many of our highest need students, but we know there is more work to do,” SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews said in a statement. “We will continue to strive for a 100 percent graduation rate for every student and to equip each student with the skills they need to succeed in the 21st Century,” he said.

According to school district officials, compared the previous school year, graduation rates increased for African American students from 77.1 to 76.8 percent and for Latino students from 70.3 to 73.8 percent. Rates for Filipino students increased from 89 to 89.6 percent and from 79.6 to 82.6 for Pacific Islander students.

Graduation rates for American Indian students also increased, from 78.6 to 83.3 percent.

Additionally, other groups saw an increase in graduation rates, with the rate for English learners at 68.2 percent, homeless youth at 76.7 percent, disabled students at 69.7 percent and students from low-income families at 84 percent.

The district’s dropout rate saw a decrease, from 8.2 percent to 7 percent, school district officials said.