The most important finding based on the latest state graduation data? More at-risk students are also finishing school.
State education officials credit California’s Local Control Funding Formula, implemented four years ago.
Under the funding system, the state has been pumping additional revenue into school districts with large numbers of low-income students, English learners and foster youth.
District officials also have the power to spend that money on programs they believe work for their students -- from tutoring to career technical education programs.
“We don’t micromanage and tell districts how to spend the money, but we have done a lot to concentrate state resources where needs are greatest," Torlakson said.
At Woodland High, the additional state revenue is paying for more Advanced Placement courses, tutoring and intervention programs.
A new team of counselors also help students academically and emotionally.
"If you need help, you go to them and they’ll move their schedule around to help you,” says Woodland High School senior Cassidy Shriner.
Many Bay Area schools have adopted similar programs.
In San Francisco Unified, the graduation rate increased slightly to 86 percent.
San Jose Unified’s grad rate hovers at 87 percent, and the district continues to graduate many more Latinos and English learners.
But it’s not a completely rosy picture for California.
School districts like Oakland Unified are making gains, but overall graduation rates are still far too low.
Persistent achievement gaps also remain among black and Latino students and their white and Asian counterparts.
Federal education officials are auditing the accuracy of the state’s graduation rates -- but the California Department of Education says it stands by its calculations.
In addition, critics say the graduation rate increase is partly because the state has suspended its high-stakes exit exam, which means seniors no longer have to pass that test in order to graduate.
