More California high school students graduated in 2011 and fewer dropped out, with the biggest gains posted by Hispanic, black and English learner students, the state Department of Education said Wednesday.
Most Solano County schools also saw strong graduation rates and dwindling dropout numbers, according to the state figures.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said he was encouraged by the results, which put California’s graduation rate at 76.3 percent, up 1.5 percent from 2010, and dropout rate at 14.4 percent, down by 2.2 percent, from 2010, but noted there was still much room for improvement.
“It’s going in the right direction, but it’s not where we want it to be,” Torlakson said. “We want to be at 85-90 percent.”