CSI – Low Graduation Rate FAQs
Frequently asked questions for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) low graduation rates.Acronym Definitions
- ATSI - Additional Targeted Support and Improvement
- CDE - California Department of Education
- CSI - Comprehensive Support and Improvement
- ESSA - Every Student Succeeds Act
Will Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) – Low Graduation Rate entry determinations be made for 2024–25?
No. Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) support determinations under CSI and Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) were made following the publication of the 2023 Dashboard. These determinations marked the first year of California's three-year identification cycle for both CSI and ATSI. CSI and ATSI entry determinations will be made again following the publicaiton of the 2026 Dashboard.
Can schools exit the CSI – Low Graduation Rate category during the three-year cycle?
Yes. Schools eligible for CSI – Low Graduation Rate in 2023–24 will be evaluated annually to determine continued eligibility for CSI – Low Graduation Rate. Any school meeting the CSI – Low Gradution Rate exit criteria will exit CSI.
How do schools exit the CSI – Low Graduation Rate category?
Any school with a CSI – Low Graduation Rate assistance status and a school-wide three-year average graduation rate falling at or above 68 percent will exit the CSI – Low Graduation Rate category.
How is the school-wide three-year average graduation rate calculated?
The formula to calculate the school-wide three-year average graduation rate is as follows:
Number of graduates in the 2023–24 graduation cohort + Number of graduates in the 2022–23 graduation cohort + Number of graduates in the 2021–22 graduation cohort
Divided by
Number of students in the 2023–24 graduation cohort + Number of students in the 2022–23 graduation cohort + Number of students in the 2021–22 graduation cohort
Multiplied by 100
The school-wide three-year average graduation rate is rounded to the nearest tenth (i.e., one decimal place).
Note, the graduation counts available on DataQuest differ from those used for this calculation. Graduation counts used for this calculation are defined in a manner consistent with the reporting of graduates on the Dashboard Graduation Rate Indicator.
The Graduation Rate Indicator downloadable data files are available on the California Department of Education (CDE) Graduation Rate Indicator Downloadable Data Files web page.
Can you provide an example of how a school can exit the CSI – Low Graduation Rate category?
A High School was eligible for CSI –Low Graduation Rate on the 2023–24 ESSA Assistance file. To determine if the school remains eligible for CSI –Low Graduation Rate in 2024–25, the school's three-year graduation rate must be 68.0 percent or above. The table below provides the count of students and graduates for each year’s cohort used in the current year's school-wide three-year graduation rate calculation.
| Graduation Cohort | 2023–24 | 2022–23 | 2021–22 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Graduates in Graduation Cohort | 122 |
118 |
111 |
351 |
| Number of Students in Graduation Cohort | 183 |
172 |
151 |
506 |
Numerator: Total number of graduates in 2023–24, 2022–23, and 2021–22 = 351
Denominator: Total number of students in the graduation cohort for 2023–24, 2022–23, and 2021–22 = 506
The three-year average is: 351 divided by 506 multiplied by 100 = 69.4 percent (rounded to the nearest tenth)
As a result, the High School is eligible to exit the CSI – Low Graduation Rate category.
When will the updated ESSA Assistance Status Data File with CSI – Low Graduation Rate exit determinations be publicly available?
The California Department of Education (CDE) publicly posted the 2024–25 ESSA Assistance Status data file on December 13, 2024.
Where will the CDE post the 2024–25 ESSA Assistance Status data file?
The CDE will post the 2024–25 file on the ESSA Assistance Status Data Files web page.