dropout rate rises beyond 2004 level

Nearly three years ago I wrote:

Let's forget about the success stories and the belated-success stories in the latter two statistics, and look at that first number: 24.3 percent of our students are dropping out, statewide.

Ouch.

Once the WASL is required for graduation, I wonder what'll happen to that number.

The answer:

The percentage of students who dropped out of high school increased during the 2005-06 school year both statewide and in some local districts, figures released last week show. The state's extended graduation rate dropped four percentage points to 75 percent that year.

Three more years of WASL pressure and full-bore ed reform, and students are still dropping out at a slightly higher rate. Worse, any progress we made in the interval has been erased.