National Institute of

Statistical Sciences/

Education Statistics

Services Institute

Task Force on

Graduation, Completion,

and Dropout Indicators

Final Report

U.S. Department of Education

Institute of Education Sciences

NCES 2005–105

NISS
1

1 Executive Summary .................................................................................................3

1.1 Performance Indicators....................................................................................4

1.2 Population-Based Indicators ............................................................................4

1.3 The Role of NCES ............................................................................................5

1.4 Organization of the Report...............................................................................5

2 Background.............................................................................................................7

3 General Findings .....................................................................................................9

4 Performance Indicators..........................................................................................11

4.1 Graduation Indicators....................................................................................11

4.2 Alternative Graduation Indicators....................................................................13

4.2.1 Cohort Graduation Indicators..........................................................................14

4.2.2 “Unadjusted” Indicators.................................................................................15

4.3 Completion Indicators ...................................................................................15

4.4 Dropout Indicators........................................................................................16

4.5 Transfer Indicators ........................................................................................17

4.6 Relationships Among Indicators......................................................................17

5 Population-Based Indicators ..................................................................................19

5.1 Population-Based Graduation Indicators...........................................................20

5.2 Population-Based Completion Indicators..........................................................20

5.3 Population-Based Dropout Indicators ..............................................................20

5.4 Task Force Concerns.......................................................................................20

6 Implementation ....................................................................................................23

CONTENTS
7 Additional Recommendations.................................................................................25

7.1 Meta-Recommendations ................................................................................25

7.2 Appropriateness, Relevance, and Usefulness .....................................................25

7.3 Other Recommendations ................................................................................26

Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................29

References ..................................................................................................................31

Appendixes..................................................................................................................33

A Task Force Members...............................................................................................33

B Charge to the Task Force........................................................................................33

C Assumptions and Definitions .................................................................................33

D Yearly Status Summaries........................................................................................34

D.1 Formulation..................................................................................................34

D.2 Extensions ..................................................................................................35

E Relationship of Recommended Graduation Indicators to Yearly Status Summaries.....36

E.1 Preferred Indicators.......................................................................................36

E.2 Alternative Graduation Indicators ...................................................................37

F Catalog of Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators .....................................39

F.1 General Discussion ........................................................................................39

F.2 Status Indicators ..........................................................................................40

F.3 Departure Classification Indicators ..................................................................40

F.4 Cohort Indicators..........................................................................................41

F.5 Other Indicators ...........................................................................................41

The GCD Catalog...........................................................................................................43

Federal GCD Rate Indicators......................................................................................43

Generic Dropout Rate Indicators ...............................................................................57

State Graduation Rate Indicators...............................................................................65

2

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators
3

This is the final report of the NISS/ESSI Task Force on Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators,1 which was 

convened by the National Institute of Statistical Sciences (NISS) at the request of the National Center for Education

Statistics (NCES) to address conceptual, data, and implementation issues associated with calculation of graduation,

completion, and dropout (GCD) indicators.2 The charge to the Task Force, which is reproduced in full in Appendix B,

was to examine the following: 

Uses: What GCD statistics are used by whom and for what purposes? 

Current NCES Practice: In view of criticisms that have been raised, is current NCES methodology for 

calculation of GCD indicators adequate?

Alternatives: Are there alternative GCD indicators that can serve both school system needs and 

broader community-level needs? What are the associated data collection issues? 

As described in more detail in §2, GCD indicators fall into two broad classes: 

Performance Indicators describing the ultimate “outcome” — such as graduation,3 completion by 

means other than or in addition to graduation,4 dropout, etc. — of students, whose primary use is to assess 

performance of schools or higher-level units such as districts or states. 

Population-Based Indicators describing the prevalence within a population of individuals with 

particular levels of educational attainment, whose primary uses relate to workforce characterization 

and improvement. 

We now summarize key recommendations. 

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1 In this document we often use the term “indicator” rather than “rate” to emphasize the statistical nature of graduation, completion, 

and dropout (GCD) estimates and to avoid confusion arising from multiple meanings of “rate.” 

2 Task Force members are listed in Appendix A. 

3 Throughout this report, we define this to mean award of a state-recognized diploma. 

4 For example, the General Educational Development (GED) credential. 
1.1 Performance Indicators 

We propose four performance indicators, corresponding to outcomes of graduation, completion by alternative or additional means,

transfer, and dropout, that are functions of a cohort year Yc and indicator year Yi . All of these principal indicators are of a 

single generic form: 

Note that these indicators are cumulative, representing what happens by rather than during Yi . 

In indicators based on (1), the cohort year is defined in such a way that each student always remains in the same cohort. Typically,

as in §4.1, the cohort year is defined by “on-time graduation,” but may for convenience be expressed as the associated year of

entry. Moreover, only in exceptional circumstances does a student move from one cohort year to another. 

Implicit in (1) and explicit in §4 is that the cohort associated with Yc increases as the result of transfers into schools or larger 

educational units. 

Our recommended indicators incorporate narrowly defined sets of exclusions, with documentation required for invocation, that

“remove” certain students from cohorts. Because they decrease the denominators of GCD indicators, as in (1), these exclusions

increase the numerical values of all indicators. 

Thus, for example, our recommended graduation indicator (§4.1) is a cohort-based, cumulative indicator derived from student-level

information and reported as a function of entry year and graduation year. We also recommend analogous completion (§4.3), 

transfer (§4.5), and dropout (§4.4) indicators. We believe, however, that the dropout indicators make more sense in 

noncumulative form, reporting what happened during year Yi . 

It is not clear that all states, especially those without student tracking systems, can calculate the preferred indicators within the

near term. Therefore, alternatives with less stringent data requirements, but also more shortcomings, are discussed in §4.2. 

The Task Force anticipates that performance indicators will be derived from school-level data submitted through public school 

universe data collections such as the Common Core of Data (CCD). While there may be questions of data quality, there will not be

substantive issues of uncertainty. Indicators at all levels of aggregation, such as school, district, or state, can be calculated from

the same school-level data, although which students are excluded varies with the level of aggregation. For example, a documented

intrastate transfer is excluded from the school out of which he or she transferred and added to the cohort for the receiving school,

but is neither an exclusion nor an addition at the state level. 

1.2 Population-Based Indicators 

The Task Force recommends population-based indicators having the form 

Implicit in (2) is a qualification “as of some fixed point in time.” Therefore, population-based indicators of the form (2) are in 

principle comparable from one time point to another. 

4

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators

(1)

(2)
To illustrate, the population-based completion indicators of §5.2 are ratios of numbers of individuals in some population who have

completed high school by one or more specified means to the population size. Population-based dropout indicators (§5.3) are of

the same form as population-based completion indicators. 

Most population-based indicators currently in use are of the general form (2). Many of these indicators are, however, derived from

survey data, for example, the Current Population Survey (CPS), and the Task Force does raise several issues in this regard in §5.4. 

1.3 The Role of NCES 

Without NCES leadership, states will not act to implement our recommendations, or if they do, they will act less effectively. The

Task Force urges that NCES provide leadership in expansion of federal-state cooperative programs to develop the data needed and

to establish guidelines for their use. The Task Force recognizes that such a program will require resources both for the states and

for NCES. Existing state coordinators for CCD would be a natural base on which to create state or regional NCES coordinators with

broader responsibilities that would include GCD indicators. 

1.4 Organization of the Report 

The remainder of this report is organized in the following manner. Background and assumptions that underlie the report are 

presented in §2. Some general findings that frame the specific recommendations appear in §3. Performance indicators are addressed

in §4. Population-based indicators are discussed in §5. Although the Task Force did not address implementation or cost issues in

detail, we recognize that implementation of our recommendations would require financial and personnel resources, so these issues

are considered briefly in §6. A number of broader recommendations appear in §7, the most important of which is that NCES play a

leadership role, working with states to implement the Task Force’s recommended graduation, completion, and dropout indicators. 

The report contains several appendixes. Some of these are administrative, such as the membership of, and charge to, the Task Force.

Others are technical, including a discussion of Yearly Status Summaries (Karr, 2004), a means of conceptualizing student-level data

summaries for multiple purposes (Appendix D), their relationship to recommended graduation indicators (Appendix E), and a 

catalog of graduation, completion, and dropout indicators (Appendix F). 

5

1. Executive Summary

7

Since the end of World War II, and probably before that, the economic and social benefits to individuals of 

graduation from high school have been recognized widely. Quantitative measurements relating to high school 

graduation have been a natural means of understanding from two perspectives:5

School: What percentage of students graduate, within what period of time?

Population: What percentage of people in a given population are high school graduates?

Perhaps even from the first use of quantified “graduation rates,” they have not necessarily addressed well a third, 

crucial perspective, that of students. This failing6 is both structural, because extremely fine-grained data are required,

and systemic, in the sense that it is not clear what actionable insights would result. 

Regardless of whether computation of GCD indicators was ever straightforward, it is clear to the Task Force that a 

number of recent developments have raised the scientific urgency of having sound, defensible, well-understood 

indicators. 

The first of these developments, which precedes but has gained in importance as a result of the No Child Left Behind

Act (NCLB), is use of GCD indicators for public school accountability purposes, at the school, district, or state level.

Inevitably, accountability considerations lead to comparisons among different institutions and, therefore, to 

incentives on institutions that may be “perverse” relative to the scientific purposes of the indicators. To illustrate,

suppose that, as in §4, schools are not held responsible in computation of graduation indicators for students who

transfer to other schools. Then care must be exercised to be sure that schools do not classify dropouts as transfers,7

because this distorts the indicators. A more subtle incentive, not preventable by data definitions alone, would be for

schools to pressure students who are in danger of not graduating to transfer, or even transfer them involuntarily. As

discussed in §4.5 and 4.6, multiple indicators for graduation and transfer are a means of at least detecting these kinds

of behaviors. 

A second development is the increased diversity of student bodies, which now include special education students, 

students whose native language is not English, and other groups once less common in high schools. Among 

consequences are pressures for GCD indicators for subgroups within schools and an increased use of cross-institution

comparisons. 

2. BACKGROUND

5 Corresponding to the performance indicators of §4 and population-based indicators of §5, respectively. 

6 It is a failing to the extent that the principal goal of the educational system is to improve the lives of students. 

7 Our strong recommendation in §4 is that transfers must be documented, which prevents schools from using transfer as 

a default classification. 
8

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators

A third factor is the growing multiplicity of means for completion of high school, which in addition to “traditional” diplomas now

include equivalency examinations such as the GED, home schooling, and distance learning. The Task Force believes that distance

learning, in particular, is growing rapidly and may be beyond the “reach” of existing means of data collection employed by NCES.

8

We do not offer specific recommendations other than that NCES evaluate whether existing means of data collection can cope with

the increasing scale of these alternative means. 

The collective impact of these and other forces, coupled with growing data collection capabilities in the states, constitute the 

impetus for this report. The Task Force specifically cautions that nothing in this report should be construed as meaning that GCD

indicators are the only or even the best means of assessing either school performance or population characteristics. We have 

simply addressed the question, if GCD indicators are to be calculated, what is the best way, scientifically and in view of current and

prospective data systems, to do so? 

8 However, some data may be available already through data collections such as CCD and the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES).
9

The specific recommendations in this report are driven by a number of general findings. 

First, no single indicator of graduation, completion, or dropouts can serve all purposes. The Task Force has, in 

general, refrained from recommending multiple, possibly conflicting indicators. Instead, the indicators we 

recommend are flexible and can be customized to specific purposes. 

Second, the Task Force has discussed at length the possibility, and in many cases reality, of “perverse” incentives, 

primarily to schools, associated with particular GCD indicators.9 We conclude that no indicator that involves 

exclusions from cohorts can be entirely free of perverse incentives. At the same time, there do exist effective 

strategies, such as use of multiple indicators, that can detect behavior that may result from perverse incentives. 

Third, uniformity across states in reporting graduation, completion, and dropout indicators is desirable-to-essential in

the long run. The Task Force acknowledges that NCLB does not mandate uniform reporting of GCD indicators, but 

nevertheless believes strongly that NCES should both recommend uniform methods for calculating indicators to states

and other organizations, and work with the states to implement them. On the other hand, attempts to enforce 

uniformity in the short run, for example, by means of “lowest common denominators” such as the unadjusted 

graduation indicators described in §4.2, may be counterproductive. 

Fourth, the availability and quality of data are central considerations in assessing the feasibility of GCD indicators. The

Task Force is convinced that the future of data collection and assembly lies in state-level student tracking systems,

and that these systems will be universal within the next five years, if not sooner. The recommendations reflect this. 

Fifth, a federal “overlay” requiring sharing of student-level data by states is not feasible economically or politically.

This raises issues regarding verification of interstate transfers, which are discussed in §4.1. 

Finally, we stress the importance of viewing our recommendations within the large context of educational systems

whose goal is to prepare students for further study and lives as productive citizens. In particular, this reduces 

implementation burdens, because, for example, GCD indicators are only one of many stimuli for state-level student

tracking systems. Similarly, a broader partnership between NCES and the states would have benefits far beyond 

calculation of GCD indicators. We urge NCES, therefore, not to rely on calculation of GCD indicators as the sole 

justification for some of our broader recommendations. 

3. General Findings

9 See §4.1 and 4.6 for examples.

11

In §4.1 we present the Task Force’s preferred graduation indicator. We recommend that NCES 

• Move toward using this indicator in its own reports and studies; 

• Urge states to do the same, especially in reporting high school graduation information for NCLB; and

• Work directly with states, and indirectly with districts and schools, to ensure that the required data are 

available and of high quality. 

The Task Force recognizes that some time may pass, in particular because statewide tracking systems may be the most

efficient way to assemble the data, before the preferred indicator can be implemented on a widespread scale. We also

believe, however, that some states can employ it almost instantly. Therefore, we describe alternative indicators 

that require less data but have manifest shortcomings, which might be used as alternatives during the process of 

implementing the preferred indicator. The Task Force specifically does not, however, recommend that NCES suggest,

let alone “require,” that states use these alternative indicators. The reason for this is that we believe that NCES 

recommending multiple indicators for different time scales may be confusing and wasteful to the states. How, and

with what caveats, NCES might choose to make states aware of these alternative indicators is a challenging issue. 

Given the availability of appropriate data, performance indicators can be calculated in the same way for any 

educational unit, be it school, district, state, or the entire United States. For simplicity, the unit is taken to be a

school in this report, and S is used in the notation. 

4.1 Graduation Indicators 

Our preferred school-based graduation indicator has three key properties. First, it is derived from student-level 

information collected and reported as a function of entry (cohort) year and year of graduation. It is a cohort-based

indicator (see Appendix F.4). Second, it is reported as a function of entry year and graduation year, in cumulative form

of “graduation by” rather than “graduation during.” This is consistent with widespread practice, for example, that of

the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and other organizations. Finally and most important, there is a

narrowly defined set of exclusions, with documentation required for use, that “remove” some students from the cohort

associated with the indicator. 

4. Performance Indicators 
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National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators

The preferred indicator is of the generic form (1). Specifically, it is the exclusion-adjusted cohort graduation 

indicator (EACGI), which is a function of school S, cohort year Yc and graduation year Yg . It accounts in a principled manner for

in-transfers, out-transfers, retentions, and other exclusions. The mathematical representation is 

A conceptual scheme for student-level status data underlying graduation indicators, as well as a variety of other data summaries,

is the Yearly Status Summary described in Appendix D. However, less than the full Yearly Status Summary is needed to calculate

EACGI; see Appendix E. 

We note several properties of EACGI: 

1. It is calculated in the same manner at all levels, from the school (indeed, even for subgroups within a school) 

to national. 

2. It is based on data anticipated to be available in all states within 3–5 years. 

3. It allows inclusion of in-transfers, and places them in the proper cohort. 

4. It does not classify any students specifically as “dropouts.” Functionally, all departing students who are not graduates 

or exclusions become de facto dropouts, but without being labeled as such. 

5. It supports calculation of a variety of derived indicators to allow for diversity of goals across or within states. 

Note that we do not provide a definition, for instance, of “Students entering 9th grade for the first time in Yc,” which NCES would

need to do if EACGI were to be implemented, or possibly has done already in the context of data collections such as CCD. Moreover,

EACGI does not differentiate among students who spend an entire year in a school and those who transfer in during a year.10

A central aspect of the EACGI indicator is the exclusions. These represent students whose failure to graduate is deemed not to be

appropriate — or not informative — in describing the school or assessing its performance. The definition of “not appropriate” or

“not informative” may, of course, be contextual. Reflecting the nature of high schools and anticipated uses of EACGI, the Task Force

recommends that the following ordinarily be exclusions: 

1. Documented transfer to an institution offering a state-designated diploma-granting program. That institution may 

be public or private, and may not necessarily be in the same state or country. 

2. Imprisonment, also with appropriate documentation. 

3. Death, again with appropriate documentation. 

10 While weights might be employed in an attempt to adjust for the fraction of a year spent in a school, the Task Force views this as neither desirable nor 

feasible, the latter because the required data seem unlikely to be available. 

(3)
13

We recognize, however, that different sets of exclusions, with either more or fewer elements than the list above, may be 

appropriate for different purposes. For instance, long-term illness may be an appropriate exclusion in some contexts, but is more 

difficult to define and measure than the three exclusions listed here. 

Some incentives associated with EACGI are sensible rather than perverse. Because documented exclusions increase EACGI, it is in a

school’s interest to pursue documentation, although as discussed in §6, there are associated costs. Other incentives may seem to,

or actually, encourage less desirable behavior. For example, as discussed further in §4.6, suppose that students whom a school

expects not to graduate can be transferred, either “voluntarily” or involuntarily, to other schools. This increases EACGI. To the extent

that such behavior by schools is detrimental to students, there is a perverse incentive. 

Implementation of each category of exclusions imposes both data and, in effect, metadata requirements. For example, for 

out-transfers, states would need to construct and maintain lists of institutions offering state-designated diploma-granting programs.

States, perhaps with guidance from NCES, would have to develop standards for documentation. For example, transcript requests from

the receiving school or enrollment verification by means of a state-level tracking system might be deemed the only 

acceptable forms of documentation. Analogous means would be necessary for verification of interstate transfers, especially in ways

that preserve confidentiality of individual states’ data. Methods would be necessary for dealing with situations such as imprisoned

individuals who are able to enroll in a diploma-granting program or transfer to a school outside the United States. 

It is not a logical necessity that there be exclusions. The National Collegiate Athletic Association, for example, permits no 

exclusions in its graduation rate calculations. The cohort graduation indicator CGI described below is, in effect, the indicator that

results if no exclusions are allowed. This can be seen mathematically by comparing (3) to (4) below. Logical necessity 

notwithstanding, however, the Task Force believes strongly that for high schools and purposes such as compliance with reporting

requirements of NCLB, exclusions are appropriate and often necessary. 

In terms of data, the exclusion-adjusted cohort graduation indicator EACGI requires tracking students by year and status of entry

and year of graduation. The Task Force believes that such data exist already in school records, but are not necessarily assembled in

ways that permit calculation of EACGI even at the school level. Ultimately, these data will be maintained in statewide tracking

systems, which seem likely to be of acceptably high quality.11

Consistent with general recommendations in §7, the Task Force recommends that NCES work with states and other organizations to

develop lists of institutions offering state-designated diploma-granting programs, lists of exclusions to be implemented when EACGI

is used for various purposes, standards for documentation of exclusions, and data standards. 

4.2 Alternative Graduation Indicators 

As discussed at the beginning of this section, the Task Force believes that these alternative indicators may be useful for interim

purposes, until the full data required for the preferred indicator become available. We recommend, however, only that NCES make

knowledge of their properties, especially their shortcomings relative to the preferred indicators, available to states or other

organizations who might wish to use them. 

It is true, we note, that the shortcomings of these indicators almost always decrease at higher levels of aggregation. For 

example, failure to account for transfers is most problematic at the school level, less so at the district level, and still less so at the

state level. Although some empirical and simulation studies have been conducted, these effects are difficult-to-impossible to 

quantify. 

We present these indicators in order of decreasing data requirements. Of the two principal data needs for EACGI — cohort 

information and documentation of exclusions — the latter seems more problematic and will take longer to attain. The first 

indicator presented here, the cohort graduation indicator (§4.2.1), assumes the ability to track students by year and status of entry

and year of graduation, but no capability to document exclusions. The unadjusted graduation indicators (§4.2.2) assume that 

neither student-level tracking nor documentation of exclusions is possible. 

4. Performance Indicators

11 Although audits should be conducted by NCES; see §7. 
14

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators

As noted above, the Task Force does not believe that it would be an effective use of NCES resources to work to “improve”12

these alternative indicators, at least at the school and district levels. Adjustments at the state level, however, may be feasible and

useful. 

4.2.1 Cohort Graduation Indicators 

The cohort graduation indicator differs from EACGI only by the absence of exclusions. The mathematical representation, which is

analogous to (3), is 

The relationship of CGI to the Yearly Status Summary is described in Appendix E. 

It is clear from the definitions that 

Therefore, to the extent that EACGI is the “true” graduation indicator, CGI underestimates it. The degree of underestimation is, of

course, not uniform across schools, districts, or states. For example, schools with high out-transfer rates may show large differences

between EACGI and CGI. 

While CGI does not explicitly account for out-transfers, it still reflects them: CGI decreases as out-transfers increase,13 so that if CGI

were used in an accountability system it would encourage schools to reduce their out-transfer rates, which some feel can be 

accomplished by increasing school quality. The “explicit” transfer indicators of §4.5 represent an alternative approach to this issue. 

12 An example suggestion: use Census, CPS, or other exogenous data to attempt to adjust rates that ignore transfers for regional-level migration. 

13 Students who transfer out do not graduate, decreasing the numerator. By contrast, out-transfers decrease both the numerator and the denominator of EACGI, 

so that their overall effect is not certain. 

(4)

(5)
15

4.2.2 “Unadjusted” Indicators 

The indicators presented here might be used in circumstances when neither of the two data capabilities in §4.1 exists. Each has

significant shortcomings, however, not only relative to EACGI and CGI but also absolutely. 

The In-Transfer Adjusted Graduation Indicator (IAGI) requires student transfer counts, but does not require a breakdown (entry year, 

graduation year) at the student level. The mathematical representation is 

Unlike the indicators in §4.1, IAGI can assume values exceeding 1.0, because of early and late graduates. 

We stress neither IAGI nor unadjusted graduation indicator UGI, introduced below, is a cohort-based indicator. An important 

difference between these two unadjusted indicators and the cohort-based indicators is that the unadjusted indicators are not 

computable on a cumulative basis, but rather only on an annual basis. Therefore, the indicators in (6) and (7) are not strict analogs

of those in (3) and (4). 

Two other rates are even more problematic than IAGI, and appear to be useful, if at all, should they be the only common 

denominator by which comparisons can be made. These are unadjusted graduation indicators (UGI) given (assuming a four-year

high school) by 

and

The difference between these is that UGI0 omits the “for the first time” qualification. Therefore UGI0 UGI. 

4.3 Completion Indicators 

These indicators differ from the graduation indicators of §4.1 only in that the numerator contains school-based forms of 

completion other than or in addition to graduation. Examples include certificates of attendance and, for states where the option

exists as a school-based program, the GED. The Task Force emphasizes that this class of indicators is not appropriate for means of

completion that cannot be linked to schools or other educational units. Thus, for example, they would in general not make sense

at the school level for the GED, although they might make sense at the state level. 

Analogs to all of the indicators in §4.1 are possible, subject to obvious changes in the mathematical formulas and — which is more

important — availability of the alternative or additional completion data at the level of resolution associated with the indicator.

4. Performance Indicators

(6)

(7)

(8)
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National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators

For example, an exclusion-adjusted cohort completion indicator (EACCI) analogous to the exclusion-adjusted cohort graduation 

indicator (EACGI) of (3) is defined by 

In (9), M is the set of one or more means of completion of interest. 

4.4 Dropout Indicators 

The Task Force recommends use of school-based dropout indicators that are true rates in the sense of measuring numbers of events

per unit of time; in this case, the unit is a year. The most basic form is the unadjusted dropout rate (UDR) given as a function of 

population P (example: tenth graders) within school S during year Y by 

An analogous exclusion-adjusted dropout rate (EADR) is given by

Clearly, UDR(S, P, Y ) ≤ EADR(S, P, Y ). 

Both the unadjusted dropout rate in (10) and the exclusion-adjusted dropout rate in (11) require a “direct” classification of

dropouts. 

NCES has employed a definition of dropouts (see, for example, Young [2003]14) that in many ways is functionally equivalent to the

Task Force’s preference of classifying all students who are neither exclusions nor remain in school throughout the year as dropouts.

This latter definition would require replacing the numerators in (10) and (11) by 

The Task Force has discussed at length the possibility of “perverse incentives” in graduation, completion, and dropout indicators.

14 In this report, a dropout is a person who “1) was enrolled in school at some time during the previous school year (e.g., 1999– 2000); and 2) was not 

enrolled at the beginning of the current school year (e.g., 2000–01); and 3) has not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved 

educational program; and 4) does not meet any of the following exclusionary conditions: a) transfer to another public school district, private school, or 

state- or district-approved educational program (including correctional or health facility programs); b) temporary absence due to suspension or schoolexcused illness; or c) death.” 

(9)

(10)

(11)

(12)
For example, if students who appear unlikely to graduate are involuntarily transferred to adult education programs and therefore

excluded from calculation of graduation indicators, schools may engage in this practice, possibly to the detriment of the students

involved. Similarly, any scenario in which the default classification15 for students who are no longer enrolled is anything other than

dropout, is subject to manipulation. Thus, while seemingly harsh, the methodology in (12) is less likely than alternatives to create

perverse incentives. 

The Task Force recommends categorically that NCES both not use and actively discourage states and other entities from using

dropout “rates” calculated by inverse relationships of the form 

Such calculations may be flawed conceptually even in the presence of data of adequate quality. For example, if EACGI were used as

the graduation indicator, then use of 1 – EACGI as a dropout rate would treat students who do not graduate on time but remain in

school as dropouts. 

4.5 Transfer Indicators 

The primary indicators EACGI in §4.1 and EACCI in §4.3 would exclude, in most settings, documented out-transfers. There may, 

however, be independent interest in understanding which schools have high rates of out-transfers (and, ultimately, of course, why).

For example, if, as noted above, such transfers can occur involuntarily, then they become a mechanism whereby schools can 

manipulate graduation indicators.16

For such purposes, the Task Force recommends use of school-based transfer indicators that, like the dropout indicators in §4.4, are

true rates in the sense of measuring numbers of events per unit of time. The principal form is the unadjusted transfer rate 

(UTR) analogous to the unadjusted dropout rate of (10). This indicator is the function of population P (example: tenth graders)

within school S during year Y given by 

An analogous exclusion-adjusted transfer rate (EATR) makes sense only if exclusions do not include transfers.17 It is given by 

4.6 Relationships Among Indicators 

The necessity for four indicators — for graduation, completion, dropout, and transfer — may not be clear. Even if history is not 

overwhelmingly compelling, it does provide some justification: all except transfer indicators have extensive histories. More 

important, it is likely that no single indicator will serve all of the purposes for which GCD indicators are used. In particular, use of

multiple indicators is simply illuminating in ways that individual indicators cannot be. 

17

4. Performance Indicators

Dropout rate = 1 Graduation rate. −

15 In the absence of documented evidence to the contrary. 

16 The Task Force does not know the extent of this phenomenon, but given pressures associated with NCLB, it seems likely to become more widespread 

in the future. 

17 For example, if only death and imprisonment were deemed exclusions. 

(13)

(14)

(15)
18

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators

The following situations illustrate how multiple indicators can be useful. 

• A school with a high graduation indicator and a high transfer indicator may, as noted above, be using transfers as a 

means of manipulating the graduation indicator. Neither indicator alone can suggest this. 

• Some schools have the reputation, at least informally, of being the recipients of in-transfers who seem unlikely to be able

to graduate, or may be established expressly to keep students who might otherwise drop out from doing so. Such schools 

may themselves have low graduation indicators, but may succeed nevertheless in the sense that many of their students 

complete high school by some means other than graduation. This would be reflected by an appropriate completion 

indicator. 

• Important substantive issues require multiple indicators (and more). For example (see §7.2), it is not understood whether 

a high transfer indicator is, in itself, a symptom of poor performance by a school. As noted above, a high transfer rate 

coupled with a high graduation rate might represent a school’s “dumping” students perceived as unlikely to graduate. 

It might also represent a “cutting of losses” that allows resources to be focused on students on whom they will have the 

greatest beneficial effect. The point is that multiple indicators are needed to address these kinds of important questions. 

Finally, although this point is somewhat generic, use of multiple indicators is a prudent defense against reducing benefits to 

students to single numbers. 
19

As noted in §1, population-based indicators have the generic form given in (2), which we repeat here in slightly 

different form: 

Each is defined by 

• A population P, typically defined by a combination of geography (e.g., a state) and an age range (e.g., 

18–24 years old). Additional qualifications include, for instance, restriction to non-institutionalized 

individuals. 

• A characteristic C, in this report having to do with educational attainment or status. 

• Implicitly, a qualification “as of some fixed point in time.” 

Population-based indicators measure important population characteristics, and are particularly appropriate for 

attainment outcomes that cannot be linked to educational units, especially the GED and possibly credentials earned

by means of distance learning. They are used and useful principally for purposes other than evaluation of the 

performance of educational units, for example, labor force characterization and defining and characterizing the 

population eligible for postsecondary education. 

The Task Force believes that current population-based indicators are conceptually sound, although they may not reflect

completely the rapidly changing nature of high school education, which now includes such paths to completion as

diplomas from Internet-based organizations. Concerns of the Task Force regarding population-based indicators are

largely statistical, and span all classes of indicators. These concerns are discussed in §5.4. 

5. Population-Based Indicators

(16)
20

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators

5.1 Population-Based Graduation Indicators 

The indicator for graduation from high school within population P is 

5.2 Population-Based Completion Indicators 

The indicator for completion of high school within population P by one or more means M — for example, graduation by means of

exit examination leading to a state-approved diploma — is 

Although some states may link the GED to schools, not all do, so the Task Force recommends that NCES use population-based 

indicators for the GED. 

5.3 Population-Based Dropout Indicators 

The indicator for having dropped out of high school within population P is 

5.4 Task Force Concerns 

The primary current source of data for population-based indicators such as (17), (18), and (19) is cross-sectional sample surveys, 

especially the CPS and American Community Survey (ACS). These are conducted by agencies other than NCES, principally the Census

Bureau (Census). In some cases, these agencies report the results as well, which does raise some issues. The Task Force does not,

however, see justification for NCES to develop its “own” alternative surveys addressing only education. There are, though, some

issues of consistency; see §7.3. 

Many of our concerns arise from a common source: population-based indicators are statistical estimates determined from surveys.

The first concern is associated uncertainties. Certainly, the numerator in an indicator such as (17) — and possibly the denominator as well — is a statistical estimate. Minimally, there are uncertainties reflecting the sampling design, coverage, and possible 

nonresponse bias. Uncertainties in the size of P, particularly if this size is small, are especially problematic because they appear in

denominators in expressions such as (17). When indicators are reported for multiple units (e.g., states), proper attention should be

paid to multiplicity.18

18 Multiplicity refers to performing large numbers of comparisons in a single analysis. Statistical tests based on such comparisons can be biased if they are done

without proper adjustments. For example, someone might calculate year-to-year changes in GCD indicators for all 50 states and report all of the changes that

were statistically significant using tests that address only one state at a time. Doing so produces upwardly biased estimates of statistical significance.

(17)

(18)

(19)
21

5. Population-Based Indicators

The Task Force is concerned about coverage of the CPS, which does not collect data about active duty military personnel or 

individuals living in group quarters such as prisons. As a result, the CPS lacks data about some important populations living in the

United States. The ACS does not have similar coverage limitations, but it is not clear that the ACS will continue to be conducted. 

There are cognitive and self-reporting issues that add to inherent uncertainties. For example, some respondents may confuse high

school graduation as used in this report with high school completion by other means. This problem is exacerbated by some 

presumptive interpretations of responses, for example, that “Some College” implies completion of high school. It seems plausible

that respondents would be reluctant to report themselves as dropouts, especially if they are concerned about the confidentiality of

their responses. 

The Task Force further recommends that NCES work with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Census, states, congressional staff,

and education researchers to address these issues. 

5. Population-Based Indicators

23

While it is beyond the scope of the Task Force to address implementation and cost issues in detail, we believe it

important at least to call attention to key items. These comments are framed by our anticipation (see §3) that

state-level electronic student tracking systems will be universal in the not-distant future, so that it is neither

fair nor realistic to attribute fixed costs of constructing and operating such systems to calculation of GCD 

indicators. 

We also believe that, with the exception of documentation of exclusions, the data elements necessary to 

calculate the GCD indicators in §4 are already, or will be, available in any reasonable student tracking system.

These elements are described in detail in Appendix D, but consist essentially, for every student, of the date and

grade of entrance and the date and status of exit. It is likely that these data exist already, although not 

necessarily in a uniform or accessible form. 

The one exception, alluded to above, is the need for data elements identifying documentation of exclusions. We

believe that most student tracking systems will have one record for each school (in a state) that a student enrolls

in, which contains an exit code. Addition of an associated documentation code is simple conceptually, but could

entail redesign of the database schema and in any case is not cost-free.19

Neither is the cost negligible to prepare scripts or other report-generating tools to calculate GCD indicators. These

will involve complex database queries, especially to handle exclusions. 

There will also be costs to states, on a continuing basis, to prepare and maintain the lists of institutions 

offering state-designated diploma-granting programs, that are required for documentation of transfers. 

It seems clear to the Task Force, however, that the largest cost associated with our recommendations is the labor

cost of documenting exclusions and entering this information into databases. Depending on the sophistication

of the database, some of this process can occur automatically. For example, creation of a record for a student at

another school in the same state could automatically enter the exit and documentation codes for the previous

school. Similarly, if a transcript request is treated as acceptable documentation of a transfer, then production 

of the transcript could — but this would require a more complex database — trigger entry of the exit and 

documentation codes. 

More likely, however, is that the process would be substantially manual. As noted in §4.1, it is in a school’s 

interest to expend the resources. 

6. Implementation 

19 Here as elsewhere, the Task Force is not in a position to estimate costs definitively. Even seemingly simple changes, such as adding 

data fields, may be costly.
24

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators

Documentation of interstate and international transfers, and possibly of intrastate transfers to private schools, pose additional 

burdens.20 As described in §7, technologies exist that would enable NCES to construct a system that would verify most interstate

transfers without compromising confidentiality. International out-transfers may be sufficiently rare21 not to pose a major problem.

Public-to-private transfers may be dealt with adequately on the basis of transcript requests. 

The Task Force neither can nor should make recommendations regarding who bears the costs associated with GCD indicators. We do

note, however, that both generally and for education data in particular (NAEP is a notable example), the federal government has

often provided some resources to the states to support data collection. 

20 The increasing diversity of institutions offering high school credentials (§2) adds to the problem.

21 Although there is anecdotal evidence to the contrary for some schools.
25

In the course of its deliberations, the Task Force discussed a number of more general issues, which has led to several

additional recommendations. 

7.1 Meta-Recommendations 

The Task Force believes that the importance and complexity of human, political, and statistical issues associated with

GCD indicators demand that NCES play a leadership role in making recommendations to states regarding 

calculation of indicators and associated data requirements, and assisting states in implementing the 

recommendations. Without such leadership, the result might be chaos, confusion and — worst — failure to meet the

fundamental goal of the NCLB Act that all children be educated well. 

Therefore, our strong recommendation is that NCES provide leadership in creation of a federal-state cooperative 

program to develop the data needed for GCD and to establish guidelines for their use. It seems sensible to the Task

Force that, if possible, such a program can be instituted more rapidly and cost-effectively by expanding extant 

programs that by creating an entirely new program, but we feel that this decision belongs ultimately to NCES. The

Task Force recognizes that such a program will require resources both for the states and for NCES. We also emphasize

once again that the benefits of such NCES leadership extend far beyond the calculation of graduation, completion,

and dropout indicators,22 and we urge that NCES articulate these broader justifications. 

In particular, the Task Force recommends that NCES explore the desirability and feasibility of full-time state or regional

data collection coordinators. These coordinators would be similar in nature to the current state-level NAEP 

coordinators. The coordinators would be state employees whose salaries, benefits, and minimal support would be

funded by the federal government. Their very presence and efforts would alter dramatically the current sometimes 

distant relationship between NCES and the states. Assuming that each position costs $150,000 annually, the total

required resources would be on the order of $8 million per year, which the Task Force does not consider to be 

inconsistent with the anticipated benefits. 

To summarize, NCES leadership is important, not just for NCLB, but also for general improvement of education data.

The Task Force urges the Commissioner to consider the most effective ways to achieve this goal. 

7.2 Appropriateness, Relevance, and Usefulness 

As stated already in §2, the Task Force is profoundly concerned that too much focus on “producing the numbers” 

represented by our recommended graduation, completion, and dropout indicators may lead to a disconnect between

indicators and the primary goals of the educational system — a challenging, exciting experience for 

students that prepares them for further study and lives as productive citizens. 

7. Additional Recommendations 

22 And even further, beyond compliance with NCLB reporting requirements.
26

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators

We recommend that NCES undertake or support a program of research to assess the extent to which our recommended graduation,

completion, and dropout indicators, or any others, do capture the “right” outcomes. To illustrate (see also §4.6), although there

are preconceptions, it is not clear that graduates from high schools with high graduation rates are more successful than those from

high schools with lower graduation rates. For example, further studies of the degree to which each of the different indicators is

associated with various measures of later life success (for example, earnings, employment, or additional education) would help to

ascertain which measures are most appropriate for which purposes. 

7.3 Other Recommendations 

The Task Force believes that several items require short-term attention, in particular because necessary resources would presumably

be included in fiscal year (FY) 2006 or FY 2007 budget requests. The Task Force anticipates that, given the already substantial burdens on its staff, NCES may wish to engage external contractors to assist in implementing these and other recommendations below. 

Student tracking systems. The Task Force recommends that NCES develop a set of minimal standards, covering both systems and

data, for state-level student tracking systems, in order to ensure that data necessary for calculation of important measures of

student and school performance, including GCD indicators, will be available in the near future. Especially, should NCES decide to

adopt the indicators recommended in this report, it should develop standards that ensure that state-level tracking systems will

collect and be able to provide the requisite data in the proper form. 

NCES should also work with states, and within its existing statistical standards (National Center for Education Statistics, 2004), to

develop data quality standards for state-level tracking systems, which should include data reviews by NCES. In this context, 

especially if there were state or regional NCES coordinators (§7.1), important but potentially contentious issues, such as NCES

reviews of the data from which GCD indicators are calculated, can be resolved in a collegial manner. The Task Force does feel that,

at least initially, items such as documentation of exclusions should be at least subject to NCES audits. 

The current and probable continuing lack of a federal overlay that would allow verification of interstate transfers should not be

regarded as an insurmountable obstacle. Techniques known generically as secure multiparty computation (Goldwasser, 1997) would

allow states to query each others’ databases to determine whether records are present without compromising any content of those

records. NCES should investigate whether such techniques are feasible in this context. 

Validation studies. The Task Force recommends that NCES conduct validation studies of data from which current GCD indicators

are calculated, such as CCD and other state administrative data. The urgency of this item reflects the perception of the Task Force

that many currently reported indicators are based on extremely problematic data. 

The Task Force believes that planning for other items, including efforts to ensure that adequate resources are available, should begin

at once, although implementation may not be immediate. 

Longitudinal studies. The Task Force recommends that NCES investigate the feasibility, desirability, utility, and cost of expanding

its current longitudinal data collection programs to provide more detailed, timely, and reliable information regarding graduation, 

completion, and dropout indicators. 

Statistical issues. The Task Force recommends that NCES undertake planning and research necessary for principled treatment of 

graduation, completion, and dropout indicators as statistical estimates. These indicators are estimates now, and will remain so even

when state- and federal-level tracking systems are in place. Issues include calculation and reporting of uncertainties, reporting 

questions such as multiplicity, and calibration of multiple indicators. 
27

7. Additional Recommendations

Cross-agency consistency. The Task Force was struck by one inconsistency among federal agencies regarding GCD indicators: the

Census Bureau defines a high school graduate as a completer not only by graduation from a diploma-granting program but also by

equivalent means such as the GED. Especially with attention focused by NCLB on (in our terminology “true”) graduation indicators,

this inconsistency seems destined to engender confusion among policymakers and the general public regarding the actual rate of

high school graduation in the United States. In particular, graduation indicators such as those in §4.1 do not include those deemed

graduates by the Census Bureau, resulting in lower estimates than those produced by the Census. Although it is not within the

power of NCES singlehandedly to effect a change, we do urge initiation of discussions between NCES and Census directed toward

using common definitions and terminology for calculating and reporting high school graduation and completion statistics. 

29

The Task Force thanks the leadership and staff of NCES for the amount and quality of information provided to us, as

well as their willingness to permit the Task Force to follow its own paths and reach its own conclusions. We also thank

Education Statistics Services Institute (ESSI) personnel, especially Susan Lapham, who have served as our organizers

and intermediaries with NCES. 

Acknowledgments 

31

References

Goldwasser, S. (1997). Multi-party computations: Past and present. In Proceedings of the 16th Annual ACM Symposium

on Principles of Distributed Computing. 

Karr, A. F. (2004). Data summaries for GCD rates. Unpublished report dated April 23, 2004. 

National Center for Education Statistics. (2004). NCES Statistical Standards. Information available online at

www.nces.ed.gov/statprog/stat_standards.asp. 

Young, B. A. (2003). Public High School Dropouts and Completers From the Common Core of Data: School Year 

2000–01. U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics.

33

A Task Force Members 

Barbara Bailar 

Duncan Chaplin Urban Institute 

John Q. Easton Consortium on Chicago School Research 

Bobby Franklin Louisiana Department of Education 

Jay P. Greene Manhattan Institute 

Paul Harrington Northeastern University 

Robert Hauser University of Wisconsin 

Janet Norwood 

Russell Rumberger University of California Santa Barbara 

Alan F. Karr (Chair) National Institute of Statistical Sciences 

B Charge to the Task Force 

• Consider what dropout and completion statistics are needed for what purposes; 

• Review existing NCES methodology for calculating dropout rates; 

• Examine the criticisms that have been raised; 

• Consider alternative means of measuring dropouts and completers in terms of both school system needs 

and broader community-level needs; and

• Recommend ways to improve data collections and measures. 

C Assumptions and Definitions 

For purposes of exposition and simplicity, the body of this report incorporates several assumptions and 

definitions, which we list here. 

1. High schools are assumed to be four-year schools. The adjustments to various formulas for three-year high 

schools are straightforward. 

2. “Year” means academic year, with year Y ending 6/30/Y . Students entering in year Y actually begin their 

studies in the fall of calendar year Y - 1. 

3. “Graduation” means award of a state-recognized diploma. 

Appendixes
34

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators

D Yearly Status Summaries 

The Yearly Status Summary is a table constructed annually at whatever level of aggregation is of interest — school, district, state,

or United States. An example appears in Table 1. An extended description appears in Karr (2004). 

D.1 Formulation 

A Yearly Status Summary has an academic year Y — the “Yearly Status Summary year” — associated with it, and so would be 

produced annually. The Yearly Status Summary classifies all students who entered as ninth graders in year Y, or for some 

designated number of previous years, by their status as of the end of the Yearly Status Summary year. Each entry is a count of the

number of students who entered in the year corresponding to a column and whose status at the end of the Yearly Status Summary

year corresponds to a given row. For simplicity, the No Longer Enrolled categories in Table 1 are cumulative rather than 

year-specific. Reentrants are not “flagged” explicitly as such, although in principle they could be. Often, they will be identifiable

by means of their status, which will be “slower than normal progress.” 

The number of columns in Table 1 can be varied, depending on need, but presumably should not be less than four. Similarly, the

number of rows associated with Graduated is variable. 

For simplicity, the version of the Yearly Status Summary presented here ignores in-transfers and other means of completion, such

as equivalency exams or the GED. Implicit in Table 1 is that Out-Transfers are verified, although this is really a data quality issue. 

The interpretations of the entries in Table 1 are as follows: 

• NP are cells corresponding to students making normal progress; 

• R(n) are students who have been retained n times (R = retained). The Yearly Status Summary indicates only how many 

times they were retained, not which grades they were retained in. 

• EG(n) are students who graduate n years early (EG = early graduates) relative to normal progress. For example, the EG(2) 

cell corresponding to Year of Entry = Y – 1 and Graduated Year = Y is students who graduated two years early — in two 

years rather than four. 

• LG(n) are students who graduate n years late (LG = late graduates) relative to normal progress. For example, the LG(2) cell

corresponding to Year of Entry = Y – 5 and Graduated Year = Y is students who graduated in six years rather than four — 

two years late. 

• Entries with XX are logical impossibilities. 

Both column and row sums in the Yearly Status Summary are meaningful: 

• The column sum for some year is the number of students entering as ninth graders in that year, which does not change 

over time, even when the Yearly Status Summary year does change. 

• The row sums are the total numbers, by status, of all students entering in years represented in the Yearly Status Summary.

For example, the row sum for Graduated Year Y is the total number of graduates in that year, regardless of when they 

entered.23

Because the Yearly Status Summaries contain counts rather than rates, low-level Yearly Status Summaries, for example at the school

district level, can always be aggregated to form Yearly Status Summaries at higher levels, for example, at the state level.24

Note that Yearly Status Summaries do not classify as dropouts students who drop out but return to school (possibly multiple times),

and who may even graduate; such students appear as either Still Enrolled or Graduated. 

23 As long as the year of entry is a column in the Yearly Status Summary. 

24 Note that this entails only aggregation of Yearly Status Summaries for the same year. In general, aggregation of Yearly Status Summaries over multiple years 

does not make sense.
Status Y Y – 1 Y – 2 Y – 3 Y – 4 Y – 5 Total 

Still Enrolled: Completed Grade 

8 R(1) R(2) R(3) R(4) R(5) R(6)

9 NP R(1) R(2) R(3) R(4) R(5)

10 NP R(1) R(2) R(3) R(4)

11 NP R(1) R(2) R(3)

Graduated: Year 

Y EG(3) EG(2) EG(1) NP LG(1) LG(2)

Y – 1 XX EG(3) EG(2) EG(1) NP LG(1)

Y – 2 XX XX EG(3) EG(2) EG(1) NP

Y – 3 XX XX XX EG(3) EG(2) EG(1)

No Longer Enrolled

Verified Out-Transfer

Dropout

Other

Total

Table 1: Prototype Yearly Status Summary for academic year Y. The Yearly Status Summary summarizes the status at the end of a given academic year Y of all students who

entered for the first time as ninth graders that year or up to n years earlier. In this example, n = 5. See the text for a detailed explanation.

Year of Entry to Ninth Grade

It is preferable that “interior” elements of the Yearly Status Summary — those other than the row of column totals — be regarded

as the “raw data” elements of the Yearly Status Summary, in which case totals available from other sources may be used to check

data quality on Yearly Status Summaries. Even in the presence of student tracking systems, it may be necessary to calculate the

Dropout row of the Yearly Status Summary by subtraction. The Task Force feels that doing so is sound conceptually only if NCES 

provides an emphatic recommendation that all out-transfers and other causes of No Longer Enrolled must be verified, including 

specification of acceptable means and evidence of verification. 

D.2 Extensions 

The simplifications in Table 1 are rather easy to remove, although possibly at a “price” in terms of understandability or data 

collection burden. 

Cumulative graduation counts. This is straightforward: by adding across rows, the Yearly Status Summary yields cumulative 

(graduated by) rather than year-specific (graduated in) counts. 

In-transfers. Conceptually, inclusion of inward transfers is straightforward: the Yearly Status Summary becomes a three-dimensional

table in which the third dimension is “entering grade.” Alternatively, the Year of Entry can become a Year and Grade of Entry,

as shown in the Yearly Status Summary in Table 2. Whether either of these alternatives is too complicated as a means 

of presentation for some purposes or audiences is not clear, but construction of either from a student tracking system is 

straightforward. 

Other means of completion. Rows can be added to the Yearly Status Summary to represent means of completion other than 

graduation, and these can be broken down by year in the same way that graduation is, but doing this may impose unreasonable

data burdens unless state-level tracking systems contain such data. 

Year-specific No Longer Enrolled counts. Given appropriate data, including these requires only adding more rows to the Yearly

Status Summary. 

35

Appendixes
E Relationship of Recommended Graduation Indicators to Yearly Status Summaries 

Here we show which elements of the Yearly Status Summary are required to calculate the recommended graduation indicators in

§4.1. This discussion also illuminates the relationships among the indicators. Implicit throughout is that the Yearly Status Summary

corresponds to the unit U. Also, for simplicity, we consider single-year rather than cumulative versions of the indicators, which we

denote with asterisks. 

E.1 Preferred Indicators 

Table 3 shows elements of the Yearly Status Summary needed to calculate the exclusion-adjusted cohort graduation rate EACGI* 

associated with (3), under the assumption that students no longer enrolled for Other causes should not be removed from the 

denominator of computations 

Should all or some of students no longer enrolled for Other causes be deemed as a matter of policy to be excluded from the 

denominator of transfer-adjusted cohort graduation rates, this can be accomplished by straightforward modification of (20). 

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators

36

Year and Grade of Entry

Year Y Year Y – 1 Year Y – 2 Year Y – 3

Status 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 Total

Still Enrolled: Completed Grade

8 R(1) XX XX XX R(2) XX XX XX XX XX XX XX R(4) XX XX XX

9 NP R(1) XX XX R(1) R(2) R(3) XX R(2) XX XX XX R(3) R(4) XX XX

10 NP R(1) XX NP R(1) R(2) XX R(1) R(2) R(3) XX R(2) R(3) R(4) XX

11 NP R(1) NP R(1) R(2) NP R(1) R(2) R(3) R(1) R(2) R(3) R(4)

Graduated: Year

Y NP NP LG(1) NP LG(1) LG(2) NP LG(1) LG(2) LG(3)

Y – 1 NP NP LG(1) NP LG(1) LG(2)

Y – 2 NP NP LG(1)

Y – 3 NP

No Longer Enrolled

Out-Transfer

Dropout

Other

Total

Table 2: Prototype Yearly Status Summary incorporating both year and grade of entry. In this case the Yearly Status Summary only reaches n = 3 years into the past. Early 

graduates are not shown.

(20)
Status 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 Total

Still Enrolled: Completed Grade

8

9

10

11

Graduated: Year

Y Num1 Num2 Num3 Num4

Y – 1

Y – 2

Y – 3

No Longer Enrolled

Out-Transfer DenomT DenomT DenomT DenomT

Dropout

Other

Total Denom1 Denom2 Denom3 Denom4

Table 3: Elements of the Yearly Status Summary required to calculate the exclusion-adjusted cohort graduation rate EACGI in (3), using (20).

T

1

T

2

T

3

T

4

Year Y – 3 = Yc

Year and Grade of Entry

Year Y = Yg Year Y – 1 Year Y – 2

E.2 Alternative Graduation Indicators 

The cohort graduation indicator of §4.2 requires some but not all “interior” elements of the Yearly Status Summary. Specifically,

Table 4 shows elements of the Yearly Status Summary required to calculate the cohort graduation rate CGI* corresponding to (4):

37

Appendixes

Status 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 Total

Still Enrolled: Completed Grade

8

9

10

11

Graduated: Year

Y

Y – 1 Num1 Num2 Num3 Num4

Y – 2

Y – 3

No Longer Enrolled

All Reasons

Total Denom1 Denom2 Denom3 Denom4

Table 4: Elements of the Yearly Status Summary required to calculate the cohort graduation rate CGI in (4), using (21).

Year Y – 3 = Yc

Year and Grade of Entry

Year Y = Yg Year Y – 1 Year Y – 2

(21)
38

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators

Table 5 shows how the in-transfer adjusted graduation indicator IAGI* corresponding to (6) is the ratio of one row sum of the Yearly

Status Summary to the sum of four column sums:

Status 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 Total

Still Enrolled: Completed Grade

8

9

10

11

Graduated: Year

Y Num

Y – 1

Y – 2

Y – 3

No Longer Enrolled

All Reasons

Total Denom1 Denom2 Denom3 Denom4

Table 5: Summary elements of the Yearly Status Summary necessary to calculate the in-transfer adjusted graduation indicator IAGI, using (22).

Year Y – 3

Year and Grade of Entry

Year Y Year Y – 1 Year Y – 2

Finally, Table 6 shows that the unadjusted graduation rate UGI* corresponding to (7) is the ratio of one row sum in the Yearly Status

Summary to one column sum: 

The “row sum divided by column sum” nature of UGI* explains why, as discussed in §4.2, it can assume values greater than one.

All other rates are, in effect, ratios of column entries to corresponding column sums. 

(22)

(23)
39

Appendixes

Status Y Y – 1 Y – 2 Y – 3 Y – 4 Y – 5 Total 

Still Enrolled: Completed Grade 

8

9

10

11

Graduated: Year 

Y Num

Y – 1

Y – 2

Y – 3

No Longer Enrolled

All Reasons

Total Denom

Table 6: Relationship of UGI given by (7) to the Yearly Status Summary: UGI(Y) = Num/Denom.

Year of Entry to Ninth Grade

F Catalog of Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators 

F.1 General Discussion 

The Task Force commissioned the preparation of a catalog of graduation, completion, and dropout indicators by Dr. Christopher B.

Swanson of the Urban Institute. That catalog is summarized below, in this appendix. 

The purpose, in keeping with the charge to the Task Force, was to understand what indicators have been used, by whom and for

what purposes, as well as associated data requirements. The catalog contains 

• Indicators used by federal agencies; 

• Generic indicators; and

• Indicators that states plan to use to satisfy NCLB reporting requirements. 

In the remainder of this appendix, we present a summary of the catalog, which places the indicators there into four general classes

— status indicators (§F.2), departure classification indicators (§F.3), cohort indicators (§F.4), and other indicators (§F.5). We also

discuss how the graduation, completion, and dropout indicators recommended by the Task Force in §4 and 5 relate to these 

existing indicators. 

The catalog contains approximately 70 indicators. For each indicator, the following information is presented: 

Identification: Classification of method, Reporting agency, Data source/type; 

Definition: General definition, Mathematical definition, Definition of elements; 

Data Description: Unit of analysis, Observations, Time span; 

Reporting: Target population, Structural units/levels, Population subgroups; 

Purpose: Main uses; and

Citation: including URLs. 
40

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators

F.2 Status Indicators 

Indicators in this class are of the form of the population-based indicators in §5: 

where P is a population and Pc is the subset of those elements of P with characteristic c. 

Indicators in Catalog: CPS Status Dropout Rate, CPS Status Completion Rate, CPS Status Alternative Completion Rate, CPS Status

Graduation Rate, Digest of Education Statistics Graduate Ratio, American Community Survey Completion Rate. 

F.3 Departure Classification Indicators 

These rates are of the general form of the ratio of the number of students departing from a school during year Y for a reason of

interest (example: graduation) to the number of students departing for any reason. Possibly, but not always, “not departing” is also

included in the denominator. An example is the NCES leaver graduation rate: the ratio of graduates to all departing students. 

The general mathematical form is 

Possibly one value of j = i represents students who have not departed. Note that exclusions in (24) are implicit: the summation

includes only some — not all — j = i . 

Indicators in Catalog: CCD Completion Leaver Rate, CCD Graduation Leaver Rate, CCD Alternative Completion Leaver Rate, OSEP

Graduate:Leaver Ratio, OSEP Dropout:Leaver Ratio. 

State NCLB Indicators in Catalog: Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa,

Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania,

Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. 

The departure classification state indicators vary somewhat, for example, as to whether alternative forms of completion are included

in the denominator. Predominantly, these indicators include dropping out as one reason for departure, which the indicators 

recommended by the Task Force include only implicitly. 

(24)
41

Appendixes

F.4 Cohort Indicators 

These indicators are similar in many respects to preferred graduation indicators of §4.1, as well as the alternative graduate 

indicators in §4.2. 

The general form is 

where C is the cohort of interest, C0 is its initial size, and ∆C(k) is the change in its size — for all or possibly only some reasons

— in year y. 

The cohorts in §4.1 and 4.2.1 are defined via entrance and graduation years. For example, for the cohort graduation indicator CGI

defined in (4): 

• The cohort is “Students entering 9th grade for the first time in Yc or transferring into 10th grade in Yc + 1 or transferring 

into 11th grade in Yc + 2 or transferring into 12th grade in Ye + 3;” 

• The departure reason is “Graduation in Yg”; and

• The only allowed changes to the cohort size are those associated with in-transfers. 

Whether the exclusion-adjusted cohort graduation indicator EACGI of (3) — the Task Force’s preferred rate — is precisely of the

form (25) is to some extent a matter of interpretation. Literally, in-transfers and exclusions can be incorporated into the changes

∆C(y) in (25), but we feel that it is important, as we have done in (3), explicitly to view in-transfers as part of the definition of

the cohort, and to define exclusions as the only means by which the cohort size may decrease. In addition, of course, (3) in fact

defines a whole family of indicators parameterized by the cohort and graduation years. 

State NCLB Indicators in Catalog: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York,

South Carolina, Texas, Washington.

F.5 Other Indicators 

These indicators generally are either of the form 

where P is a population within school S, or are products of such terms. 

(25)

(26)
42

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Indicators

25 Except by forcing the population to account for exclusions, which is a conceptual error. 

The unadjusted dropout rate UDR of (10) falls into this category. The exclusion-adjusted dropout rate EADR of (11) does not.25

Indicators in Catalog: CPS Event Dropout Rate, CCD Event Dropout Rate, Annual Dropout Rates (Grades 7–12, Grades 9–12, and GradeSpecific), Derived Four-Year Dropout Rate, Synthetic Four-Year Dropout Rate (two versions), Non-Persistence Rate. 

State NCLB Indicators: Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina.
43

THE GCD CATALOG

Federal GCD Rate Indicators
44

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Other Indicator

Reporting Agency National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education

Information Source Current Population Survey (October), Census Bureau

Survey of residential households (annual supplement)

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of high school students who dropped out over a 1-year interval of time

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

D = High School Dropouts Includes: persons age 15-24 enrolled in grades 10-12 in

October of year y-1 who were no longer enrolled in October of year y and did not complete a high school program. Excludes: recipients of diploma, program completion or

equivalency (e.g., GED) credential. 

E = Enrolled High School Students Persons age 15-24 enrolled in grades 10-12 in

October of years y-1 and y. 

C = High School Completers Persons age 15-24 who completed high school between

October of year y-1 and October of year y. Includes: recipients of diploma, program completion or equivalency (e.g., GED) credential. 

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis Individual household member (one survey respondent reports on behalf of all household

members)

Data Structure Single cross-section with retrospective information

Time Span N/A

REPORTING

Target Population Young adult (age 15-24) civilian non-institutionalized population

Structural Units/Levels Nation, region, state (3-year moving average at state level)

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, age, family income 

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Reporting, Analysis

CITATION

Dropout Rates in the United States: 2000 (NCES): 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/droppub_2001/index.asp

CPS Website: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/cpsmain.htm 

Basic CPS survey: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/bdata.htm 

CPS Supplements: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/school/scenmain.htm 

CPS Event Dropout Rate
45

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Status Indicator

Reporting Agency National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education

Information Source Current Population Survey (October), Census Bureau

Survey of residential households (annual supplement)

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of persons age 16 to 24 who have not completed high school.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

D = High School Dropout Includes: individuals age 16-24 who have not completed a

high school program and are not currently enrolled in school.

Excludes: recipients of high school diploma, program completion or equivalency (e.g.,

GED) credential.

P = Population age 16-24 

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis Individual household member (one survey respondent reports on behalf of all household

members)

Data Structure Single cross-section

Time Span N/A

REPORTING

Target Population Young adult (age 16-24) civilian non-institutionalized population

Structural Units/Levels Race/ethnicity, sex, race-by-sex, age, immigration status, family income, labor force status, years of school completed 

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, age, family income 

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Reporting, Analysis

CITATION

Dropout Rates in the United States: 2000 (NCES):

http://www.nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2002114

Digest of Education Statistics (NCES): http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/ 

CPS Status Dropout Rate
46

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Status Indicator

Reporting Agency National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education

Information Source Current Population Survey (October), Census Bureau

Survey of residential households (annual supplement)

DEFINITION

General Definition

The proportion of 18- through 24-year-olds not currently enrolled in school at the elementary or secondary level who have earned a high school diploma or the equivalent,

including a GED credential.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

C = High School Completers Individuals age 18-24 who have received a high school

diploma, program completion or equivalency (e.g., GED) credential.

P = Population age 18-24 Excludes: individuals who are currently enrolled in school at

the secondary level or below.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis Individual household member (one survey respondent reports on behalf of all household

members)

Data Structure Single cross-section

Time Span N/A

REPORTING

Target Population Young adult (age 18-24) civilian non-institutionalized population

Structural Units/Levels Nation, region, state (3-year moving average at state level)

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, age

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Reporting, Analysis

CITATION

Dropout Rates in the United States: 2000 (NCES): 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/droppub_2001/index.asp

CPS Website: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/cpsmain.htm 

Basic CPS survey: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/bdata.htm 

CPS Supplements: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/school/scenmain.htm 

CPS Status Completion Rate
47

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Status Indicator

Reporting Agency National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education

Information Source Current Population Survey (October), Census Bureau

Survey of residential households (annual supplement)

DEFINITION

General Definition The proportion of 18- through 24-year-olds not currently enrolled in school at the elementary or secondary level who have earned a high school diploma.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Individuals age 18-24 who have received a high school

diploma. Excludes: individuals who completed high school by receiving an equivalency

credential (e.g., GED). 

P = Population age 18-24 Excludes: individuals who are currently enrolled in school at

the secondary level or below.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis Individual household member (one survey respondent reports on behalf of all household

members)

Data Structure Single cross-section

Time Span N/A

REPORTING

Target Population Young adult (age 18-24) civilian non-institutionalized population

Structural Units/Levels Nation, geographic region, state (3-year moving average at state level)

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, age

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Reporting, Analysis

CITATION

Dropout Rates in the United States: 1999 (NCES): 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2001022

CPS Website: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/cpsmain.htm 

Basic CPS survey: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/bdata.htm 

CPS Supplements: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/school/scenmain.htm 

CPS Status Graduation Rate
48

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Status Indicator

Reporting Agency National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education

Information Source Current Population Survey (October), Census Bureau

Survey of residential households (annual supplement)

DEFINITION

General Definition The proportion of 18- through 24-year-olds not currently enrolled in school at the elementary or secondary level who have received a high school equivalency.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

A = Alternative High School Completers Individuals age 18-24 who have received a high

school equivalency credential (e.g., GED). 

Excludes: recipients of high school diplomas. 

P = Individuals age 18-24 Excludes: individuals who are currently enrolled in school at

the secondary level or below.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis Individual household member (one survey respondent reports on behalf of all household

members)

Data Structure Single cross-section

Time Span N/A

REPORTING

Target Population Young adult (age 18-24) civilian non-institutionalized population

Structural Units/Levels Nation, geographic region, state (3-year moving average at state level)

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, age

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Reporting, Analysis

CITATION

Dropout Rates in the United States: 1999 (NCES): 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2001022

CPS Website: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/cpsmain.htm 

Basic CPS survey: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/bdata.htm 

CPS Supplements: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/school/scenmain.htm 

CPS Status Alternative Completion Rate
49

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Other Indicator

Reporting Agency National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education

Information Source Common Core of Data (CCD), National Center for Education Statistics 

Census of public schools and school districts within states (annual)

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of public school students enrolled in grades 9-12 who drop out during a given

school year.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

D = High School Dropouts Students who were enrolled in grades 9-12 at some time during school year y who were no longer in enrollment in school on October 1 of the following year. Includes: students expected to be in membership in year y+1 but have not

graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary educational program. Definition of Elements Excludes: transfer to another public school district, private school, or state- or district-approved education program which might

include a GED preparation program; temporary school-recognized absence due to suspension or illness; and death. 

E = High School Enrollment Students enrolled in grades 9-12 in school year y.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis District (most basic level of reporting for high school dropout in CCD)

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 2 observation points

Time Span 1-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels State

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, grade, district locale

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Reporting

CITATION

Public High School Dropouts and Completers from the CCD: School Year 2000-2001:

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2004/2004310.pdf 

Documentation to the NCES CCD LEA Universe Survey Dropout and 

Completion Data File: School Year 2000-2001: 

http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/pdf/drp00gen.pdf 

Dropout Rates in the United States: 2000 (NCES): 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/droppub_2001/index.asp 

CCD Event Dropout Rate
50

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education

Information Source Common Core of Data (CCD), National Center for Education Statistics 

Census of public schools and school districts within states (annual)

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

or other credential for completing a public secondary education program

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

C = High School Completers Students completing a public secondary education program

in year y. Includes: recipients of a standard high school diploma, or (if offered by state)

a certificate of attendance or other program completion credential in lieu of a diploma.

Excludes: recipients of GED or other high school equivalency credential. 

D = High School Dropouts Students who were enrolled in grades (g) 9-12 at some time

during school year y who were no longer in enrollment in school on October 1 of the following year. (For additional details on dropout definition see catalog entry for CCD Event

Dropout Rate.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis District (most basic level of reporting for high school dropout in CCD)

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels State

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, grade, district locale

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Reporting

CITATION

Public High School Dropouts and Completers from the CCD: School Year 2000-2001:

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2004/2004310.pdf

Documentation to the CCD LEA Universe Survey Dropout and Completion 

Data File: School Year 2000-2001: http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/pdf/drp00gen.pdf 

Dropout Rates in the United States: 2000 (NCES): 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/droppub_2001/index.asp

CCD Completion Leaver Rate
51

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education

Information Source Common Core of Data (CCD), National Center for Education Statistics 

Census of public schools and school districts within states (annual)

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

A = Alternative High School Completers Students receiving a non-diploma credential for

completion of a public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: equivalency credentials (e.g., GED).

D = High School Dropouts Students who were enrolled in grades (g) 9-12 at some time

during school year y who were no longer in enrollment in school on October 1 of the following year. (For additional details on dropout definition see catalog entry for CCD Event

Dropout Rate.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis District (most basic level of reporting for high school dropout in CCD)

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels State

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, district locale

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Reporting

CITATION

Public High School Dropouts and Completers from the CCD: School Year 2000-2001:

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2004/2004310.pdf

Documentation to the CCD LEA Universe Survey Dropout and Completion 

Data File: School Year 2000-2001: http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/pdf/drp00gen.pdf 

Dropout Rates in the United States: 2000 (NCES): 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/droppub_2001/index.asp 

CCD Graduation Leaver Rate
52

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education

Information Source Common Core of Data (CCD), National Center for Education Statistics 

Census of public schools and school districts within states (annual)

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a non-diploma credential for completing a public secondary education program

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

A = Alternative High School Completers Students receiving a non-diploma credential for

completion of a public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students who were enrolled in grades (g) 9-12 at some time

during school year y who were no longer in enrollment in school on October 1 of the following year. (For additional details on dropout definition see catalog entry for CCD Event

Dropout Rate.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis District (most basic level of reporting for high school dropout in CCD)

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels State

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, district locale

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Reporting

CITATION

Public High School Dropouts and Completers from the CCD: School Year 2000-2001:

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2004/2004310.pdf

Documentation to the NCES CCD LEA Universe Survey Dropout and Completion 

Data File: School Year 2000-2001: 

http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/pdf/drp00gen.pdf 

Dropout Rates in the United States: 2000 (NCES): 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/droppub_2001/index.asp 

CCD Alternative Completion Leaver Rate
53

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Status Indicator

Reporting Agency National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education

Reported in Digest of Education Statistics

Information Source Multiple sources, including: Current Population Survey, Census Bureau; 

Common Core of Data, National Center for Education Statistics

DEFINITION

General Definition High school graduates as a percent of the 17-year-old population

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Includes: diplomas from public and private regular day

school programs. Excludes: other high school program completion (if separately reported) and high school equivalency (e.g., GED) credential. 

P = Population age 17

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis Varies by source and across long-term time series

Data Structure Single cross-section

Time Span N/A

REPORTING

Target Population 17-year-olds in civilian non-institutionalized population

Structural Units/Levels Nation

Population Subgroups Sex, public/private schools

PURPOSE

Main use(s) Reporting (long-term national trend)

CITATION

Digest of Education Statistics 2002 (NCES): 

http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/ 

Digest of Education Statistics - Graduate Ratio
54

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Status Indicator

Reporting Agency U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce

Information Source American Community Survey (ACS)

Survey of residential households (proposed replacement for decennial census long form).

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of population 25 years and older who are high school completers

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

C = High School Completer Includes: individuals who report their highest degree as 

high school diploma or equivalent, Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Graduate or

Professional degree; or who report attending college but not receiving a degree.

Excludes: individuals who report completing grade 12 but have not received a diploma or

equivalent. 

P = Population age 25 and older

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis Individual household member (one survey respondent reports on behalf of all eligible

household members)

Data Structure Single cross-section

Time Span N/A

REPORTING

Target Population Adult population (25 years and older)

Structural Units/Levels Nation, state, county, city, metropolitan area, population groups of 65,000 people or

more

Population Subgroups Multiple demographic categories

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Reporting, Analysis

CITATION

ACS website: http://www.census.gov/acs/www/index.html

American Community Survey Completion Rate
55

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), U.S. Department of Education 

OSEP Data Collection System

Information Source

State-level administrative reporting of aggregated counts of students exiting public special education services (sampling permitted); DEFINITION: Percent of students with disabilities (age 14 and older) who leave special education services

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of population 25 years and older who are high school completers

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students age 14 and older who received special education

services in year y and exited the program through a receipt of a standard high school

diploma. Includes: GED recipients only if students remained enrolled in a secondary education program. 

C = Program Completers Students who exited program with modified diploma, program

completion or similar credential. 

R = Reach Maximum Age Students who exit program because reached maximum age for

receipt of special education services. 

M = Death Student receiving special education services died during year y. 

D = Dropout Students receiving special education services during year y who were not

enrolled at the end of the year and did not exit services through other specified modes.

Includes: dropouts, runaways, expulsions, status unknowns, and other exiters. Excludes:

GED recipients who remained enrolled in a secondary education program.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis State

Data Structure Single cross-section

Time Span N/A

REPORTING

Target Population Students (age 14 and older) leaving special education services in public schools

Structural Units/Levels State, nation

Population Subgroups Type of disability, race/ethnicity

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Annual Reports to Congress on the Implementation of IDEA:

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/research.html 

IDEA Part B info: http://www.ideadata.org/PartBdata.asp 

Data forms: http://www.ideadata.org/docs/ExitingPtB.pdf 

OSEP Graduate:Leaver Ratio
56

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), U.S. Department of Education

Information Source OSEP Data Collection System State-level reporting of aggregated counts of students exiting public special education services (sampling permitted)

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of students with disabilities (age 14 and older) who leave special education services as a dropout (i.e., dropouts as a percent of all leavers).

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

D = Dropout Students receiving special education services during year y who were not

enrolled at the end of the year and did not exit services through other specified modes.

Includes: dropouts, runaways, expulsions, status unknowns, and other exiters. Excludes:

GED recipients who remained enrolled in a secondary education program. 

G = High School Graduates Students age 14 and older who received special education

services in year y and exited the program through a receipt of a standard high school

diploma. Includes: GED recipients only if received students remained enrolled in a secondary education program. 

C = Program Completers Students who exited program with modified diploma, program

completion or similar credential. 

R = Reach Maximum Age Students who exit program because reached maximum age for

receipt of special education services. 

M = Death Student receiving special education services died during year y. 

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis State

Data Structure Single cross-section

Time Span N/A

REPORTING

Target Population Students (age 14 and older) leaving special education services in public schools

Structural Units/Levels State, nation

Population Subgroups Type of disability, race/ethnicity

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Annual Reports to Congress on the Implementation of IDEA:

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/research.html 

IDEA Part B info: http://www.ideadata.org/PartBdata.asp 

Data forms: http://www.ideadata.org/docs/ExitingPtB.pdf 

OSEP Dropout:Leaver Ratio
57

THE GCD CATALOG

Generic Dropout Rate Indicators
58

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Other Indicator

Reporting Agency N/A

Information Source State or other administrative data system

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of public school students enrolled in grades 7-12 who drop out during a given

school year.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

D = High School Dropouts Students who were enrolled in grades 7-12 at some time during school year y who were no longer in enrollment at the beginning of the following

year. Includes: students expected to be in membership in year y+1 but have not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary educational

program. Excludes: transfer to another public school district, private school, or state- or

district-approved education program which might include a GED preparation program;

temporary school-recognized absence due to suspension or illness; and death. 

E = High School Enrollment Students enrolled in grades 7-12 in school year y.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis District or school with 7-12 grade span

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 2 observation points

Time Span 1-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population Students in public education system

Structural Units/Levels N/A

Population Subgroups N/A

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) N/A

CITATION

N/A

Annual Dropout Rate, Grades 7–12
59

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Other Indicator

Reporting Agency N/A

Information Source State or other administrative data system

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of public school students enrolled in grades 9-12 who drop out during a given

school year.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

D = High School Dropouts Students who were enrolled in grades 9-12 at some time during school year y who were no longer in enrollment at the beginning of the following

year. Includes: students expected to be in membership in year y+1 but have not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary educational

program. Excludes: transfer to another public school district, private school, or state- or

district-approved education program which might include a GED preparation program;

temporary school-recognized absence due to suspension or illness; and death. 

E = High School Enrollment Students enrolled in grades 9-12 in school year y.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis District or school with 9-12 grade span

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 2 observation points

Time Span 1-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population Students in public education system

Structural Units/Levels N/A

Population Subgroups N/A

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) N/A

CITATION

N/A

Annual Dropout Rate, Grades 9–12
60

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Other Indicator

Reporting Agency N/A

Information Source State or other administrative data system

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of public school students enrolled at a particular grade level who drop out during

a given school year.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

D = High School Dropouts Students who were enrolled in grade g at some time during

school year y who were no longer in enrollment at the beginning of the following year.

Includes: students expected to be in membership in year y+1 but have not graduated

from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary educational program. Excludes: transfer to another public school district, private school, or state- or 

district-approved education program which might include a GED preparation program;

temporary school-recognized absence due to suspension or illness; and death. 

E = High School Enrollment Students enrolled in grade g in school year y.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis District or school with secondary level grade span

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 2 observation points

Time Span 1-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population Students in public education system

Structural Units/Levels N/A

Population Subgroups N/A

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) N/A

CITATION

N/A

Annual Dropout Rate, Grade-Specific
61

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Other Indicator

Reporting Agency N/A

Information Source State or other administrative data system

DEFINITION

General Definition

Percent of public school students estimated to drop out of a high school cohort over a

period of four years. Estimate is based on grade-specific dropout rates over the course

of four school years.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

D = High School Dropouts Students who were enrolled in grade g at some time during

school year y who were no longer in enrollment at the beginning of the following year.

Includes: students expected to be in membership in year y+1 but have not graduated

from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary educational program. Excludes: transfer to another public school district, private school, or state- or 

district-approved education program which might include a GED preparation program;

temporary school-recognized absence due to suspension or illness; and death. 

E = High School Enrollment Students enrolled in grade g in school year y.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis District or school with secondary level grade span

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 5 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population Students in public education system

Structural Units/Levels N/A

Population Subgroups N/A

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) N/A

CITATION

N/A

Derived Four-Year Dropout Rate
62

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Other Rate

Reporting Agency N/A

Information Source State or other administrative data system

DEFINITION

General Definition

Percent of public school students estimated to drop out of a high school cohort over a

period of four years. Estimate is based on grade-specific dropout rates over the course of

four school years.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

D = High School Dropouts Students who were enrolled in grade g at some time during

school year y who were no longer in enrollment at the beginning of the following year.

Includes: students expected to be in membership in year y+1 but have not graduated

from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary educational program. Excludes: transfer to another public school district, private school, or state- or district-approved education program which might include a GED preparation program; temporary school-recognized absence due to suspension or illness; and death. 

E = High School Enrollment Students enrolled in grade g in school year y.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis District or school with secondary level grade span

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 2 observation points

Time Span 1-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population Students in public education system

Structural Units/Levels N/A

Population Subgroups N/A

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) N/A

CITATION

N/A

Synthetic Four-Year Dropout Rate, Version 1
63

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Other Indicator

Reporting Agency N/A

Information Source State or other administrative data system

DEFINITION

General Definition

Percent of public school students estimated to drop out of a high school cohort over a

period of four years. Estimate is based on aggregate dropout rates (grades 9-12) during a

single school year.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

D = High School Dropouts Students who were enrolled in grade g at some time during

school year y who were no longer in enrollment at the beginning of the following year.

Includes: students expected to be in membership in year y+1 but have not graduated

from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary educational program. Excludes: transfer to another public school district, private school, or state- or 

district-approved education program which might include a GED preparation program;

temporary school-recognized absence due to suspension or illness; and death. 

E = High School Enrollment Students enrolled in grade g in school year y.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis District or school with secondary level grade span

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 2 observation points

Time Span 1-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population Students in public education system

Structural Units/Levels N/A

Population Subgroups N/A

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) N/A

CITATION

N/A

Synthetic Four-Year Dropout Rate, Version 2
64

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Other Rate

Reporting Agency N/A

Information Source State or other administrative data system

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of public school students who do not persist in school, based on a comparison of

enrollment counts in adjacent grades over two consecutive years.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements E = High School Enrollment Students enrolled in grade g in school year y.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis District or school with secondary level grade span

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 2 observation points

Time Span 2-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population Students in public education system

Structural Units/Levels N/A

Population Subgroups N/A

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) N/A

CITATION

N/A

Non-Persistence Rate
65

THE GCD CATALOG

State Graduation Rate Indicators
66

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Alabama Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of

state-developed requirements for a public secondary education program in year y.

Includes: recipients of Alabama High School Diploma, Alabama Occupational Diploma,

and Alternate Adult High School Diploma; and summer graduates. Excludes: recipients of

non-standards-based completion certificates or GED. 

A = Alternative High School Completers Students receiving non-diploma high school

completion or exit documentation (e.g., graduation certificates). Excludes: recipients of

GED or other high school equivalency credential. 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition with alternative reporting 

calendar.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Data unavailable for calculating disaggregated graduation rates (2002-03)

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability

CITATION

Alabama Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook.

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/alcsa.doc 

Alabama Graduation Rate (NCLB)
67

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Includes: summer graduates. Excludes:

other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

A = Alternative High School Completers Students completing a public secondary education program in year y without receiving a standard diploma. Includes: nonstandard

diplomas, certificates (e.g., Certificates of Achievement), and GEDs. 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition with alternative reporting 

calendar.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Alaska Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook.

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/akcsa.doc 

Alaska Graduation Rate (NCLB)
68

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Cohort Indicator

Reporting Agency Arizona Department of Education

Information Source

State administrative data collection 

Longitudinal data maintained at local level (school, district), no statewide student tracking system

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of students from an entering ninth grade cohort who graduate with a standard

diploma within four years.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students from an entering freshman class who receive a

standard diploma for completion of a public secondary education program within four

years of starting ninth grade. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in

lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

E = Entering Cohort Number of students who started high school (i.e., ninth grade) in

year y-3. Cohort membership (m) is defined as individuals who were enrolled for the first

time in a particular grade (9) at a given point in time (y-3) within a public school system (e.g., school, district). 

I = Inflow to Cohort Students who joined the original cohort by transferring into the

local school system at cohort grade-level. 

O = Outflow from Cohort Students who leave the original cohort due to transfer from the

local school system or death. Excludes: dropouts.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Longitudinal panel, 2 observation points (individual students tracked locally)

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

State of Arizona Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook.

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/azcsa.doc 

Arizona Graduation Rate (NCLB)
69

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Other Indicator

Reporting Agency Arkansas Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of students who remain enrolled in school from grade 9 through 12.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.) Includes: students who drop

out and later receive a GED. Excludes: GED students. 

E = Enrollment Students enrolled in grade g during year y. 

DR = Dropout Rate Calculated for year y by dividing number of students who drop out 

of grade g by number of students enrolled in that grade at the beginning of the school

year.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 5 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Arkansas Department of Education Consolidated State Application Accountability

Workbook. 

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/arcsa.doc 

Arkansas School Performance Reports Definitions/Calculations 

http://www.as-is.org/reportcard/attend 

Arkansas Persistence Rate (NCLB)

where:
70

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency California Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: students who receive high

school equivalency certificate or GED. 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State adopted CCD dropout definition in 2003.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Data unavailable for calculating disaggregated graduation rates (2002-03)

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

State of California Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook.

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/cacsa.doc 

California Graduation Rate (NCLB)
71

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Cohort Indicator

Reporting Agency Colorado Department of Education

Information Source

State administrative data collection 

Longitudinal data maintained at local level (school, district), no statewide student tracking system

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of students from an entering high school cohort who receive a diploma within

four years by fulfilling graduation requirements established by a local school board.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students from an entering freshman class who receive a

diploma for fulfilling requirements of a locally defined public secondary education program within four years of starting ninth grade. Includes: summer graduates (counted in

year y or y+1 depending on district reporting practices). Excludes: individuals who

receive program completion or equivalency credentials (e.g., GED) without fulfilling locally defined requirements for graduation. 

E = Entering Cohort Number of students who started high school (i.e., ninth grade) in

year y-3 (based on end-of-year count of eighth graders for the previous school year).

Cohort membership (m) is defined as individuals who were enrolled for the first time in a

particular grade (9) at a given point in time (y-3) within a public school system (e.g.,

school, district). 

I = Inflow to Cohort Students who joined the original cohort by transferring into the

local school system at cohort grade-level. 

O = Outflow from Cohort Students who leave the original cohort due to transfer from the

local school system. Excludes: dropouts.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Longitudinal panel, 2 observation points (individual students tracked locally)

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Colorado Department of Education Consolidated State Application Accountability

Workbook. http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/cocsa.doc 

Colorado Department of Education website: 

http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdereval/rvdefine.htm 

Colorado Graduation Rate (NCLB)
72

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Connecticut Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Includes: special education students who

have until age 21 to earn a regular diploma. 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.) 

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race-ethnicity, sex, disability status (2002-03)

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Connecticut Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook.

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/ctcsa.doc 

Connecticut Graduation Rate (NCLB)
73

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Delaware Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: students who receive a GED 

certificate. 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.) 

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

State of Delaware Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/decsa.doc 

Delaware Graduation Rate (NCLB)
74

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency District of Columbia Public Schools

Information Source Administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: students who receive other program completion credentials not fully aligned with standards and equivalency credentials

(e.g., GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (District of Columbia uses CCD dropout definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Single cross-section

Time Span N/A

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

District of Columbia Public Schools Consolidated State Application 

Accountability Workbook. 

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/dccsa.doc 

District of Columbia Graduation Rate (NCLB)
IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Cohort Indicator

Reporting Agency Florida Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Longitudinal data with statewide student tracking system 

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of students from an entering ninth grade cohort who graduate with a standard

diploma within four years.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students from an entering freshman class who receive a

standard diploma for completion of a public secondary education program within four

years of starting ninth grade. Includes: recipients of a standard diploma or a State of

Florida/High School Equivalency Diploma. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma (i.e., Certificate of Completion, Special

Diploma, Special Certificate of Completion) and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

E = Entering Cohort Number of students who started high school (i.e., ninth grade) in

year y-3. Cohort membership (m) is defined as individuals who were enrolled for the first

time in a particular grade (9) at a given point in time (y-3) within a public school system (e.g., school, district). 

I = Inflow to Cohort Students who joined the original cohort by transferring into the

local school system at cohort grade-level. 

O = Outflow from Cohort Students who leave the original cohort due to transfer from the

local school system or death.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Longitudinal panel, 2 observation points (individual students tracked statewide)

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

State of Florida Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/flcsa.doc 

75

The GCD Catalog

Florida Graduation Rate (NCLB)
76

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Georgia Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

A = Alternative High School Completers Students completing a public secondary education program in year y without receiving a standard diploma. Includes: Certificate of

Attendance, Special Education diploma. 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. Includes: noncompleters and GED recipients. (State uses CCD

dropout definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

State of Georgia Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/gacsa.doc 

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) FY 2003: Calculation Guide for School-level data 

Version 1.3: http://techservices.doe.k12.ga.us/ayp/aypcalculations.pdf 

Georgia Graduation Rate (NCLB)
77

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Cohort Indicator

Reporting Agency Hawaii Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of first-time ninth grade students who graduate with a standard diploma within

four years.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students who receive a standard diploma for completion of

a public secondary education program within four years of starting ninth grade.

Includes: recipients of a standard (Board of Education or Department of Education) diploma. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma

(e.g., IEP certificate) and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

E = Entering Cohort Number of first-time ninth grade students in year y-3. Cohort membership (m) is defined as individuals who were enrolled for the first time in a particular

grade (9) at a given point in time (y-3) within a public school system (e.g., school, 

district). 

O = Outflow from Cohort Students who leave the original cohort due to transfer from

the local school system. Excludes: dropouts (as defined by CCD).

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Longitudinal panel, 2 observation points (individual students tracked statewide)

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Hawaii Department of Education Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/hicsa.doc 

Hawaii Graduation Rate (NCLB)
78

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Idaho Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Data unavailable for calculating disaggregated graduation rates (2002-03)

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

State of Idaho Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/idcsa.doc 

Idaho Graduation Rate (NCLB)
79

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Cohort Indicator

Reporting Agency State Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Longitudinal data with statewide student tracking system

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of first-time ninth grade students who graduate with a standard diploma.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students who receive a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program within four years of starting ninth grade. Includes:

recipients of a standard diploma. Excludes: students with too few credits to graduate,

other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma (e.g., IEP 

certificate) and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

E = Entering Cohort Number of first-time ninth grade students in year y-3. Cohort membership (m) is defined as individuals who were enrolled for the first time in a particular

grade (9) at a given point in time (y-3) within a public school system (e.g., school, 

district). 

I = Inflow to Cohort Students who graduated in year y but were not members of the

original entering cohort. Includes: students transferring into the local school system at

cohort grade-level, and students who graduated in fewer or more than four years. 

O = Outflow from Cohort Students who leave the original cohort due to transfer from the

local school system or death. Excludes: students who drop out or are expelled.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 5 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Illinois State Board of Education Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/ilcsa.doc 

Illinois Graduation Rate (NCLB)
80

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Other Indicator

Reporting Agency Indiana Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of students who remain enrolled in school from grade 9 through 12.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

D = High School Dropouts Students who were enrolled in school during school year y or

the previous summer recess and leave the educational system during that period without

graduating from high school. Excludes: death, temporary absence due to suspension or a

school-excused absence, and transfer to a public or nonpublic school. (State does not

use CCD dropout definition.)

E = Enrollment Students enrolled in grade g during year y. 

DR = Dropout Rate Calculated for year y by dividing number of students who drop out 

of grade g by number of students enrolled in that grade at the beginning of the school

year.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 2 observation points

Time Span 1-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Indiana Department of Education Consolidated State Application Accountability

Workbook. 

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/incsa.doc 

Indiana Department of Education website: 

http://www.asap.state.in.us/definitions.html 

Indiana Persistence Rate (NCLB)

where:
81

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Iowa Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Includes: students receiving regular diplomas from an alternative placement within the district, or who have had the requirements

modified in accordance with a disability. Excludes: other program completion credentials

offered in lieu of a standard diploma (e.g., certificate of attendance) 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. Includes: GED recipients. (State uses CCD dropout definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Data unavailable for calculating disaggregated graduation rates (2002-03)

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Iowa Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/iacsa.doc 

Iowa Graduation Rate (NCLB)
82

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Cohort Indicator

Reporting Agency Kansas State Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: equivalency credentials (e.g.,

GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.) 

T = Net Transfers Net number of students moving into school system at grade level for

the focal cohort. 

I = Inflow to Cohort Students who joined the original cohort by transferring into the

local school system at cohort grade-level. 

O = Outflow from Cohort Students who leave the original cohort due to transfer from the

local school system.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Kansas State Department of Education Consolidated State Application Accountability

Workbook: 

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/kscsa.doc 

Kansas Graduation Rate (NCLB)

where:
83

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Kentucky Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

A = Alternative High School Completers Students completing a public secondary education program in year y without receiving a standard diploma. Includes: Certificate of

Attendance. Excludes: GED. 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Kentucky’s Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/kycsa.doc 

Kentucky Graduation Rate (NCLB)
84

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Other Indicator

Reporting Agency Louisiana Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Longitudinal data with statewide student tracking system

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of public school students enrolled in grades 9-12 who drop out during a given

school year.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

D = High School Dropouts Students who were enrolled in grades 9-12 at some time during school year y who were no longer in enrollment in school on October 1 of the following year. Includes: students expected to be in membership in year y+1 but have not

graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary educational program. Excludes: transfer to another public school district, private school, or

state- or district-approved education program which might include a GED preparation

program; temporary school-recognized absence due to suspension or illness; and death.

(State uses CCD dropout definition with alternative reporting calendar.) 

E = High School Enrollment Cumulative student enrollment in grades 9–12 for school

year y. Includes: any dropouts not included in cumulative enrollment (e.g., summer

dropouts).

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Longitudinal panel, 2 observation points (individual students tracked statewide)

Time Span 1-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Louisiana’s Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/lacsa.doc 

Louisiana Department of Education:

http://www.doe.state.la.us/lde/accountability/home.html 

Louisiana Dropout Rate (NCLB)
85

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Maine State Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Includes: students receiving a diploma

after an approved fifth year of extended study. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma (e.g., Adult Education Diploma) and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. Excludes: students enrolled in an approved fifth year of extended

study. (State uses CCD dropout definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

State of Maine Department of Education Consolidated State Application Accountability

Workbook: 

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/mecsa.doc 

Maine Graduation Rate (NCLB)
86

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Maryland Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma (e.g., special education certificates, nonstandard diplomas) and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition with alternative reporting 

calendar.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Maryland State Department of Education Consolidated State Application Accountability

Workbook: 

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/mdcsa.doc 

Maryland Graduation Rate (NCLB)
87

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Cohort Indicator

Reporting Agency Massachusetts Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of tenth grade students who graduate with a standard diploma two years later.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students who took the tenth grade state assessment in year

y-2 and graduated with a competency determination in year y. Excludes: students who

have transferred into or out of the school system since the time of the tenth grade

assessment. 

E = Enrollment Base Number of students enrolled in grade 10 in year y-2 (i.e., enrollment at the time of the tenth grade assessment). 

I = Inflow Students who joined the graduating class since the time of the tenth grade

assessment by transferring into the local school system at grade-level. 

O = Outflow Students who leave the graduating class since the time of the tenth grade

assessment by transferring out of the local school system at grade-level. 

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 3 observation points

Time Span 3-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Massachusetts Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/macsa.doc 

Massachusetts Graduation Rate (NCLB)
88

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Cohort Indicator

Reporting Agency Maine Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Longitudinal data with statewide student tracking system

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of students from an entering ninth grade cohort who graduate with a standard

diploma within four years.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students from an entering freshman class who receive a

standard diploma for completion of a public secondary education program within four

years of starting ninth grade. Includes: recipients of a standard diploma. Excludes:

other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials. 

E = Entering Cohort Number of students who started high school (i.e., ninth grade) in

year y-3. Cohort membership (m) is defined as individuals who were enrolled for the first

time in a particular grade (9) at a given point in time (y-3) within a public school system (e.g., school, district). 

I = Inflow to Cohort Students who joined the original cohort by transferring into the

local school system at cohort grade-level. 

O = Outflow from Cohort Students who leave the original cohort due to transfer from the

local school system or death.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Longitudinal panel, 2 observation points (individual students tracked statewide)

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Michigan Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/micsa.doc 

Michigan Graduation Rate (NCLB)
89

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Minnesota Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Minnesota Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/mncsa.doc 

Minnesota Graduation Rate (NCLB)
90

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Cohort Rate

Reporting Agency Mississippi Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of ninth grade students who graduate with a standard diploma.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students who receive a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. 

E = Enrollment Base Number of ninth grade students in year y-3. 

I = Inflow to Cohort Students who joined the original cohort by transferring into the

local school system at cohort grade-level. 

O = Outflow from Cohort Students who leave the original cohort due to transfer from the

local school system. 

F = Failing Students Number of students at cohort grade-level failing over the four-year

period. (Note: Based on review of state documents, “failing” is understood to mean 

students retained in grade.) 

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 5 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Minnesota Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/mncsa.doc 

Mississippi Graduation Rate (NCLB)
91

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Missouri Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: equivalency credentials (e.g.,

GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. Includes: students who obtain a GED. (State uses CCD dropout 

definition.) 

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Missouri Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/mocsa.doc 

Missouri Graduation Rate (NCLB)
92

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Montana Office of Public Instruction

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

A = Alternative High School Completers Students completing a public secondary education program in year y without receiving a standard diploma. Excludes: GED recipients.

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Data unavailable for calculating disaggregated graduation rates for all NCLB categories

(2002-03)

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Montana Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/mtcsa.doc 

Montana Graduation Rate (NCLB)
93

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Nebraska Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for on-time completion of a public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials 

(e.g., GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis District (data only collected at LEA level 2002-03)

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Nebraska Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/nbcsa.doc 

Nebraska Graduation Rate (NCLB)
94

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Nevada Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Includes: standard and advanced diploma

recipients (students with IEP may have up to 7 years to earn a standard diploma).

Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma

(i.e., adjusted diploma and certificate of attendance) and equivalency credentials (e.g.,

GED). 

A = Alternative High School Completers Students completing a public secondary education program in year y without receiving a standard diploma. Includes: recipients of

adjusted diploma, certificate of attendance, and GED. 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Nevada Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/nvcsa.doc

Nevada Graduation Rate (NCLB)
95

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Other Indicator

Reporting Agency New Hampshire Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition

Proportion of public school students estimated to remain in school until grade 12 and

receive a diploma on-time (calculated as the product of persistence rate and diploma-tocompleter ratio)

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma on-time for completion of a public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: students taking longer

than the standard number of years to earn a standard diploma, other program completion

credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

C = High School Completers Students completing a public secondary education program

in year y. Includes: all recipients of standard diplomas and nonstandard diplomas. 

PR = Persistence Rate Percent of students estimated to remain in school from grades 9

through 12, derived from annual dropout rate in grades 9-12. 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.) 

E = High School Enrollment Students enrolled in grades 9-12 in school year y.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 2 observation points

Time Span 1-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook for the State of New Hampshire:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/nhcsa.doc 

New Hampshire Graduation Rate (NCLB)

where:
96

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Other Indicator

Reporting Agency New Jersey Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of public school students enrolled in grades 9-12 who drop out during a given

school year.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. Includes: students who leave school and receive a GED. (State uses

CCD dropout definition with alternative July-June reporting calendar.) 

E = High School Enrollment Students enrolled in grades 9-12 in school year y (as of

October).

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 2 observation points

Time Span 1-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

State of New Jersey Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/njcsa.doc 

New Jersey Department of Education website: 

http://education.state.nj.us/rc/index.html 

New Jersey Dropout Rate (NCLB)
97

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Other Indicator

Reporting Agency New Mexico Public Education Department

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of public school students in grade 12 who graduate during a given school year.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students in grade 12 receiving a standard diploma for completion of a public secondary education program in year y. 

E = Twelfth Grade Enrollment Students enrolled in grade 12 in school year y.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 2 observation points

Time Span 1-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

New Mexico State Department of Education Consolidated State Application 

Accountability Workbook: 

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/nmcsa.doc 

New Mexico Graduation Rate (NCLB)
98

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Cohort Rate Indicator

Reporting Agency New York State Education Department

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Longitudinal data with statewide student tracking system

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of students from an entering ninth grade cohort who graduate with a standard

diploma within four years.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students from an entering freshman class who receive a

standard diploma for completion of a public secondary education program within four

years of starting ninth grade. Includes: students in state-approved program leading to

certification in a career or technology field in addition to a high school diploma who

earned a regular high school diploma within five years. 

E = Entering Cohort Number of students who started high school (i.e., ninth grade) in

year y-3. Cohort membership (m) is defined as individuals who were enrolled for the first

time in a particular grade (9) at a given point in time (y-3) within a public school system (e.g., school, district). 

I = Inflow to Cohort Students who joined the original cohort by transferring into the

local school system at cohort grade-level. 

O = Outflow from Cohort Students who leave the original cohort due to transfer from the

local school system.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Longitudinal panel, 2 observation points (individual students tracked statewide)

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

New York State Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/nycsa.doc 

New York Graduation Rate (NCLB)
99

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Other Indicator

Reporting Agency North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of all public school graduates in a given year who have received a standard

diploma on-time.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

m = Graduating Class Indication of student’s expected graduating class, determined on

time elapsed since taking the state’s eighth grade assessment. For the on-time graduation class in year y (i.e., m=1), students would have taken the eighth grade test in year

y-4.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Single cross-section with retrospective information

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

State Board of Education State of North Carolina Consolidated State Application

Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/nccsa.doc 

North Carolina Graduation Rate (NCLB)
100

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency North Dakota Department of Public Instruction

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Data unavailable for calculating disaggregated graduation rates (2002-03)

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

North Dakota Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/ndcsa.doc 

North Dakota School District Profiles 

http://www.dpi.state.nd.us/dpi/reports/profile/index.shtm 

North Dakota Graduation Rate (NCLB)
101

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Ohio Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Includes: summer graduates. Excludes:

other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

State of Ohio Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/ohcsa.doc 

Ohio Report Cards 

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/reportcard/choice_page/default.asp 

Ohio Graduation Rate (NCLB)
102

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Oklahoma State Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school during a single school year who have

received a high school diploma for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Includes: summer graduates. Excludes:

other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

A = Alternative High School Completers (GED) Students receiving GED credentials. 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition with alternative reporting 

calendar.) 

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Single cross-section

Time Span N/A

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Oklahoma Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/okcsa.doc 

Oklahoma Graduation Rate (NCLB)
103

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Oregon Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school during a single school year who have

received a high school diploma for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Includes: summer graduates. Excludes:

other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.) 

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Single cross-section

Time Span N/A

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, disability status

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Oregon Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/orcsa.doc 

Oregon AYP Reports 

http://www.ode.state.or.us/nclb/ayp/index.asp 

Oregon Graduation Rate (NCLB)
104

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Pennsylvania Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school during a single school year who have

received a high school diploma for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

A = Alternative High School Completers Students receiving nonstandard diplomas. 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.) 

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups

Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged 

*Note: a synthetic version of indicator using a single year of data will be used for calculating

disaggregated graduation rates until four years of subgroup data are available.

PURPOSE

Main use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Oregon Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/orcsa.doc 

Oregon AYP Reports 

http://www.ode.state.or.us/nclb/ayp/index.asp 

Pennsylvania Graduation Rate (NCLB)
105

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school during a single school year who have

received a high school diploma for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.) 

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Rhode Island Department of Education Consolidated State Application Accountability

Workbook: http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/ricsa.doc 

Rhode Island Graduation Rate (NCLB)
106

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Cohort Indicator

Reporting Agency South Carolina Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of first-time ninth grade students who graduate with a standard diploma in four

years.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students who receive a standard diploma for completion of 

a public secondary education program within four years of starting ninth grade. Includes:

recipients of a standard diploma. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered

in lieu of a standard diploma (e.g., IEP certificate) and equivalency credentials (e.g.,

GED). 

E = Entering Cohort Number of first-time ninth grade students in year y-3. Cohort membership (m) is defined as individuals who were enrolled for the first time in a particular

grade (9) at a given point in time (y-3) within a public school system (e.g., school, district). Excludes: students repeating the ninth grade in year y-3. 

I = Inflow to Cohort Students who joined the original cohort by transferring into the

local school system at cohort grade-level. 

O = Outflow from Cohort Students who leave the original cohort due to transfer out of

the local school system.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 5 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

South Carolina Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/sccsa.doc 

South Carolina Graduation Rate (NCLB)
107

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency South Dakota Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

South Dakota Department of Education Consolidated State Application Accountability

Workbook: http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/sdcsa.doc

South Dakota Graduation Rate (NCLB)
108

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency State Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of public school students from an entering ninth grade class who leave school

as high school graduates

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students from an entering freshman cohort who receive a

standard diploma in year y for completion of a public secondary education program within four years of starting ninth grade. Includes: summer graduates. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

m = Cohort Membership Students who were enrolled for the first time in grade 9 at a

given point in time (y-3). The state’s student tracking system should allow for adjustment of completion and dropout counts to reflect students who joined (or left) the original cohort by transferring into (or out of) the school system at cohort grade-level. 

A = Alternative High School Completers Students completing a public secondary education program in year y without receiving a standard diploma. Includes: nonstandard

diplomas, certificates (e.g., Certificate of Achievement). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition with alternative reporting 

calendar.) 

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Longitudinal panel, 4 observation points (individual students tracked statewide)

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Tennessee Department of Education Consolidated State Application 

Accountability Workbook: 

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/tncsa.doc 

Tennessee Graduation Rate (NCLB)
109

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Cohort Indicator

Reporting Agency State Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Longitudinal data with statewide student tracking system

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of students from an entering ninth grade cohort who graduate with a standard

diploma within four years.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students from an entering freshman class who receive a

standard diploma for completion of a public secondary education program within four

years of starting ninth grade. Includes: recipients of a standard diploma. Excludes:

other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

E = Entering Cohort Number of students who started high school (i.e., ninth grade) in

year y-3. Cohort membership (m) is defined as individuals who were enrolled for the first

time in a particular grade (9) at a given point in time (y-3) within a public school system (e.g., school, district). Excludes: students whose final status (at anticipated time of

graduation) cannot be determined. 

I = Inflow to Cohort Students who joined the original cohort by transferring into the

local school system at cohort grade-level. 

O = Outflow from Cohort Students who leave the original cohort due to transfer out of

the local school system or death.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Longitudinal panel, 2 observation points (individual students tracked statewide)

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Texas Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/txcsa.doc 

Texas Graduation Rate (NCLB)
110

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency State of Utah Office of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition

Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program. (Note: three-year rate with grade

10 treated as start of high school.)

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. Includes: students’ program completion credentials offered in lieu

of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). (State uses CCD dropout

definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 3 observation points

Time Span 3-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system 

(Note: This method considers grade 10 to be the start of high school.)

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Utah Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/utcsa.doc 

Utah Graduation Rate (NCLB)
111

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency State of Vermont Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of public school students enrolled in grade 12 who complete high school during

a given school year (i.e., grade 12 completion rate).

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

C = High School Completers Students in twelfth grade who are reported as “Promoted” in

year y. * 

A = Alternative Completers (GED) Students in twelfth grade who receive a GED in 

year y. 

R = Retained Students Twelfth grade students in year y reported as “Not Promoted.” 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. Includes: students who dropped out during the summer preceding

school year y. (State uses CCD dropout definition with alternative reporting calendar.)

*Note: Criteria for twelfth grade “promotion” are not clearly specified. Although it appears

that GED recipients are not considered “promoted,” the treatment of students receiving other

non-diploma credentials (e.g., certificate of attendance) is not clear.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Single cross-section with retrospective reporting

Time Span N/A

REPORTING

Target Population Twelfth grade students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Data unavailable for calculating disaggregated graduation rates (2002–03)

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

State of Vermont Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/vtcsa.doc 

Vermont Public School Dropout and High School Completion Report 2002–2003:

http://www.state.vt.us/educ/new/pdfdoc/data/dropout/dropout_completion_03.pdf

Vermont Graduation Rate—Version 1 (NCLB)
112

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency State of Vermont Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have been “promoted” from the

twelfth grade.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

C = High School Completers Students in twelfth grade who are reported as “Promoted” in

year y. * 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition with alternative reporting 

calendar.) 

*Note: Criteria for twelfth grade “promotion” are not clearly specified. Although it appears

that GED recipients are not considered “promoted,” the treatment of students receiving other

non-diploma credentials (e.g., certificate of attendance) is not clear.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Data unavailable for calculating disaggregated graduation rates (2002–03)

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

State of Vermont Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/vtcsa.doc 

Vermont Public School Dropout and High School Completion Report 2002–2003:

http://www.state.vt.us/educ/new/pdfdoc/data/dropout/ dropout_completion_03.pdf

Vermont Graduation Rate—Version 2 (NCLB)
113

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Virginia Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Includes: recipients of Standard Diplomas

and Advanced Studies Diplomas. Excludes: recipients of other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma (e.g., Modified Standard Diploma, Special

Diploma, Certificate of Attendance) and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Virginia Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/vacsa.doc 

Virginia Graduation Rate (NCLB)
114

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Cohort Indicator

Reporting Agency Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Longitudinal data with statewide student tracking system

DEFINITION

General Definition Percent of first-time ninth grade students who graduate with a standard diploma within

four years.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students from an entering freshman cohort who receive a

standard diploma in year y for completion of a public secondary education program within four years of starting ninth grade. Excludes: other program completion credentials

offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

m = Cohort Membership Students who were enrolled in grade 9 at a given point in time

(y-3). 

R = Retained Cohort Members Students from entering cohort who continue to be

enrolled after school year y but have not graduated. 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State does not use CCD dropout definition, 2002-03.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Washington’s Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/wacsa.doc

Washington Graduation Rate (NCLB)
115

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency West Virginia Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for on-time completion of a public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g.,

GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.) 

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency and status as

economically disadvantaged

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

State of West Virginia Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/wvcsa.doc 

West Virginia Graduation Rate (NCLB)
116

National Institute of Statistical Sciences/Education Statistics Services Institute 

Task Force on Graduation, Completion and Dropout Indicators

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of the students leaving high school who have received a high school diploma

for completing a public secondary education program.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Includes: summer graduates. Excludes:

other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target population High school students in state public education system

Structural units/levels School, district, state

Population subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex

PURPOSE

Main use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Consolidated State Application 

Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/wicsa.doc 

Wisconson Graduation Rate (NCLB)
117

The GCD Catalog

IDENTIFICATION

Classification of Method Departure Classification Indicator

Reporting Agency Wyoming Department of Education

Information Source State administrative data collection 

Aggregate-level data, no longitudinal tracking of individual students

DEFINITION

General Definition Proportion of public high school students who leave school as high school graduates.

Mathematical Definition

Definition of Elements

G = High School Graduates Students receiving a standard diploma for completion of a

public secondary education program in year y. Excludes: other program completion credentials offered in lieu of a standard diploma and equivalency credentials (e.g., GED). 

A = Alternative High School Completers Students completing a public secondary education program in year y without receiving a standard diploma (e.g., certificate of completion). 

D = High School Dropouts Students in grade g who leave school during year y and have

not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved secondary

educational program. (State uses CCD dropout definition.)

DATA DESCRIPTION

Unit of Analysis School

Data Structure Repeated cross-section with 4 observation points

Time Span 4-year period of observation

REPORTING

Target Population High school students in state public education system

Structural Units/Levels School, district, state

Population Subgroups Race/ethnicity, sex, disability status

PURPOSE

Main Use(s) Accountability, Reporting

CITATION

Wyoming Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/wycsa.doc 

Every Student Counts 

http://www.k12.wy.us/stats/wde_public.esc.show_menu 

Wyoming Graduation Rate (NCLB)