Quality of Life Indicators
Category Name:
Educational Success Data
Graduating from high school, higher education and formal training, in addition to educational attainment, imply skills for employment, social responsibility and economic self-sufficiency.
WCSD Pathway academic performance targets -- new 8/11
educational attainment -- updated 11/24/11
high school dropout rates -- updated 8/18/11
high school graduation rates -- updated 8/18/11
alternative educational opportunities -- updated 9/5/11
Adequate Yearly Progress -- updated 8/19/11
WCSD grads qualifying for Millennium Scholarships -- new 8/11
TMCC persistence rates -- new 8/11
UNR persistence rates -- new 8/11
UNR freshman attrition rates -- corrected 2/29/12
WCSD Pathway academic performance targets -- new 8/11
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In 2010, the Washoe County School District developed key Pathway (The Pathway to College and Highly-Skilled Career Readiness) performance targets for student achievement, as a part of their strategic plan, Envision WCSD 2015. Many of the targets are part of national, state and local Criterion Referenced Tests (CRT), which provide a point-in-time standard of student performance on these tests. College entrance exams are also a part of these performance measures because they test knowledge of reading, writing and math, as well as the ability to complete college-level work.
The WCSD’s overarching goal is for all students to graduate from high school with essential academic knowledge and work-related skills to achieve their future education and career objectives.
educational attainment -- updated 11/24/11
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The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey tracks the education level of those 25 years and older because of the relationship between income and workforce skills.
high school dropout rates -- updated 8/18/11
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After having come down dramatically for more than a decade, the Nevada high school dropout rate increased school year 2006-07, albeit less of an increase for the WCSD. However, Nevada’s dropout rate then decreased through 2008-09, while WCSD increased. For almost two decades, concerted efforts from many groups of community collaborators have made a real difference. After recent improvements in the African American and Hispanic dropout rates, all groups except Asian/Pacific Islanders increased school year 2008-09. All dropout rates decreased in 2009-10. Clark County School District dropout rates remain significantly higher than the WCSD and the state.
high school graduation rates -- updated 8/18/11
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Staying in school is more important as the world and workforce becomes more complex. WSCD high school graduation rates have improved and continue to be higher than the state. The official graduation rates are reported by the Nevada Department of Education, using the Leaver Rate measuring the percentage of seniors leaving with a standard, advanced or honors diploma, i.e. high school students graduating. Graduation rates are reported via the Annual Reports of Accountability, for the previous school year. The Washoe K-16 Data Profile, prepared by The Education Alliance of Washoe County, uses the longitudinal Cohort Rate tracking individual students in a given freshman class. The cohort rate calculation is lower than the leaver rate, hence the rates should not be compared.
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alternative educational opportunities -- updated 9/5/11
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In 2010-11, there were 62,324 students enrolled in the Washoe County School District. Of that number, 1.9% of students were enrolled in alternative settings within the school district, with another 2,416 students enrolled in charter schools.
The above data does not include students who are being home-schooled or at private schools. The number of home-schooled students fluctuates from month to month. 
GEDs are not included in WCSD data since they are not “diplomas.” In August 2005, the Washoe County Library, Community Resource Center, in collaboration with NNLC, began offering assessments and enrollments in the online GED study program. Statistics on the number passing the GED exam are not available, however 65 assessments were completed fiscal year 2006-07. Enrollment in the program has more than tripled with just 11 in 2005, 35 in 2006, and 46 as of December 2007. [Source: Washoe County Library, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)]
Adequate Yearly Progress -- updated 8/19/11
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Over the years, the legislature has changed the standardized test to be used in schools. They've also changed the time of year that testing occurs. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA) makes further changes to the testing schedule and requirements. Under NCLB, Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is used to determine if schools are making adequate progress toward meeting state academic standards and the expectation is that 100% of all students are proficient in reading and math in every classroom, school, and district. However, NCLB has been largely unfunded and Congress has not reauthorized it. A waiver process was implemented August 2011, for states such as Nevada, to seek relief from portions of NCLB through the use other recognized student success and achievement standards, providing WCSD with more flexibility to demonstrate accountability in the future, through the district's Envision WCSD 2015 strategic plan.
In evaluating which indicators, if any, TMT will use to monitor student achievement in the future, the measures that must be reported should be taken into consideration. AYP is the measure used to determine district and school progress based upon state assessment results for all students and subpopulations of students. The WCSD made AYP even though state performance targets significantly increased 2009-10 school year, and the number of schools making AYP remained relatively consistent in school year 2010-11: 41 schools/41.8% in need of improvement (4-fewer schools and 3-additional charter schools did not make AYP).
The high school proficiency pass rates are another option for monitoring student achievement. Washoe County students have higher pass rates than students state wide in all three proficiency areas. WCSD reported 3.9% failures (138 students) on the 2009-10 school year Nevada High School Proficiency Examination, compared to 5.5% for the state.
WCSD grads qualifying for Millennium Scholarships -- new 8/11
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UNR freshman attrition rates -- corrected 2/29/12
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UNR student retention may become harder at $189.25 per-credit-hour in-state undergraduate ($5,677.50 for 30 semester hours without fees) due to the rise fall 2011, plus an estimated $1,300 for books and supplies, $1,600 for transportation and $2,661 for other expenses for one-year for a typical full-time undergraduate UNR student.
