Number of high school graduates in Clark County drops

LAS VEGAS - Only three of every four seniors in the Clark County School District's Class of 2000 earned the right to graduate.

The percentage of students who met all requirements for a diploma fell from 77 percent in 1998-99 to 76 percent in 1999-2000, according to the district and the Nevada Department of Education.

The district's performance falls below the Nevada average of 80 percent, which increased 1 percentage point from 1999. In all, the state had 18,139 seniors last school year, with 14,446 of them successfully completing high school.

Eighteen of Clark County's high schools experienced declines in the graduation rates, according to senior enrollment figures and the number of standard and adjusted diplomas given out last school year. Only seven schools maintained or improved on 1999 student performance. Desert Pines, Foothill and Centennial high schools did not have graduating classes in 2000.

Rates generally were highest at the district's rural and magnet schools. All 32 seniors at Indian Springs Junior-Senior High School left with diplomas. Laughlin Junior-Senior High School improved its graduation rate by 18 percentage points, from 79 percent to 97 percent in one year. Only one student at Laughlin was awarded a certificate of attendance, which is given to those who meet all graduation requirements but fail to pass the Nevada High School Proficiency Exam.

Nevada schools issued 839 certificates of attendance last school year, with the bulk - 665 - going to Clark County students. A total of 451 certificates went to seniors in 1999, up from 229 in 1998, the last year before the new exit exam was required.

While certificates of attendance were given to only 6 percent of Clark County seniors, minority students earned them in disproportionate numbers. Three percent of white students in the Class 2000 earned certificates of attendance, in contrast with 14 percent of Hispanic seniors and 16 percent of black seniors.

The district enrolled 11,682 seniors at its high schools and alternative programs in 1999-2000.