The California Department of Education reported this week that graduation rates among Fresno Unified students rose 4.5 percent over the previous year, increasing the district’s four-year graduation rate for 2014-15 to 83.8 percent. 

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And the district’s dropout rate decreased to 11.7 percent, an improvement from last year’s 14.0 percent dropout rate.

In addition, several significant subgroups also saw increases in 2014-15 including Hispanic, Asian, and African-American.

Hispanic students’ graduation rates rose to 82.3 percent, a 10.8 percent increase over four years; Asian students’ graduation rates were 90.9 percent, a 9.9 percent increase over four years; and African-American students’ graduation rates were 82.1 percent, a 15.2 percent increase over four years.

“The Fresno Unified School District is focused on keeping all students in school and on target to graduate,” said Michael Hanson, Fresno Unified superintendent. “The rising graduation rates reflect the commitment from our Board of Education to invest resources that provide students more opportunities to graduate with the greatest number of choices from the widest array of options.”

Overall, Fresno Unified ranked just behind San Francisco Unified among its California Office to Reform Education (CORE) district partners in the percentage gained in 2014-15. CORE’s goal is to improve college and career readiness and student achievement through coordinated work on state standards.