Graduation Rate Indicator

This indicator, reported on the California School Dashboard, applies to districts and schools with students in grades 9–12.

What is this Indicator?

The Graduation Rate Indicator is one of several state indicators that the California Department of Education (CDE) reports on the California School Dashboard (Dashboard). It represents the percentage of students who graduate high school within a specified timeframe with a high school diploma.

All schools – comprehensive (or traditional), charter, and Dashboard Alternative School Status (DASS) – receive a combined four- and five-year graduation rate.

This indicator is reported on the Dashboard for any local educational agency (LEA) and high school that enrolls students in grade twelve.

Additional Reports

Designed for educators, the School Dashboard Additional Reports offer information and data beyond what are reported on the Dashboard, including summarized views across all state indicators. Two reports specific to this indicator are the:

2024 Five-by-Five Graduation Rate Placement Report
Graduation Rate Report

Resources

General Information about the Indicator

Graduation Rate flyer(PDF)

Technical Information about the Indicator

2024 Dashboard Technical Guide - This guide is the key to unlocking how the state indicators are calculated for the Dashboard. An extensive review of the Graduation Rate Indicator, and all other state indicators is covered with explanations on the calculation formulas and business rules.
Handbook on the Connections Between CALPADS and the Dashboard(DOCX) - A user-friendly handbook filled with print screens to help you confirm your California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) data before it is used for the Dashboard.
District of Residence flyer(PDF) - The District of Special Education Accountability rule is applied to all state indicators. Download this flyer to learn more.
Crosswalk Between the Graduation Rates Reported on DataQuest and Dashboard(DOCX) - This document identifies the differences in the way that data are produced for DataQuest and the Dashboard.
Downloadable Data Files: Graduation Rate - Access statewide LEA, school, and student group Dashboard graduation rate results.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Graduation Rate Indicator FAQs web page addresses the common questions received on this state indicator.

Additional Information about the Dashboard

Connect to the Dashboard Measures tab on the Dashboard Resources web page to learn about other state indicators reported on the Dashboard.
View the 2024 Dashboard Communication Toolkit to enhance your knowledge about the 2024 Dashboard.
Resources for parents, educators, and those new to the Dashboard are available on the Dashboard Resources web page.
Five-by-Five Colored Tables – Access the Status cut scores, Change cut scores, and Performance Levels (or colors) for each state indicator.

Next Steps

Newly Added Pathway Diploma for Students with Disabilities

Per California Education Code Section 51225.31, eligible SWDs, who entered grade nine in 2022–23 school year or later, can graduate from high school through a newly defined "Alternative Diploma Pathway".

With the implementation of the new alternative diploma pathway, effective July 1, 2023, School Completion Status Code 102 – Pathway Diploma for Students with Disabilities is now available for use in CALPADS. Because these SWDs must have entered grade nine in the 2022–23 academic year or later (per Education Code), the earliest that these students can be counted as graduates may be with the 2026 Dashboard.

For more information on this new pathway diploma, please refer to the August 25, 2023, correspondence from the CDE Special Education Division as well as CALPADS Flash #260.