Chamber Excited to See Graduation Rates Rise among L.A. High School Students
September 14, 2017
LOS ANGELES, CA — Following Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) announcement by Superintendent Michelle King regarding the district’s preliminary high school graduation rates, the L.A. Area Chamber releases the following statement:
“The Chamber applauds LAUSD for surpassing its own graduation rate goal and hitting an impressive 80.2 percent rate for the 2016-2017 school year - a three-point gain from last year. More LAUSD students than ever before are not only earning a high school diploma, but also completing the eligibility requirements for California’s four-year public universities. The number of LAUSD graduates completing the A-G requirements with a C or better has increased from 35 percent in 2011 to 55 percent in 2016, exceeding student outcomes for the entire state,” said David Rattray, Executive Vice President, Education Excellence & Talent Development for the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce.
“All of this reinforces that our schools are headed in the right direction. We must continue to build on this momentum. We particularly want to graduate students who are college and workforce ready, and we want to continue the gains in equity. Many of the programs and initiatives the L.A. Area Chamber supports – from the L.A. College Promise to L.A. Cash for College to the L.A. Compact – break down barriers to provide equal access and opportunities for LAUSD students. Their success has a direct impact on developing the future workforce, closing the skills gap and growing our economy. We are very proud of these trends and are committed to partnering with the district and the L.A. community to continue to move the needle on high school graduation and A-G completion rates,” added Rattray.
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The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of business in L.A. County. Founded in 1888, the Chamber promotes a prosperous economy and quality of life in the Los Angeles region. For more information, visit www.lachamber.com.