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Graduation Rate Business Rules

SIRS Reporting Deadlines

Cohorts Reported

Cohort year is determined using the First Date of Entry into Grade 9 as reported in SIRS. The 2015 Total Cohort Graduation Rate data includes:

The 4-Year August and 5- and 6-Year cohorts are cumulative.

The 2015 total cohort consists of all students, based on last enrollment record as of June 30, 2019, with a First Date of Entry into Grade 9 during the 2015-16 school year (July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016), regardless of their current grade level.

The cohort year for students whose last enrollment record has a grade of “14” (i.e., 7–12 ungraded) is identified using the date reported in the First Date of Entry into Grade 9 field. In circumstances where no date has been reported for an ungraded student, cohort year will be the school year the student turned 17.

Regardless of cohort, students are reported in the school and district where they were last enrolled as of the reporting date (4, 5, or 6 years after date of first entry in grade 9). The last enrollment record is defined as the regular enrollment record with the most recent beginning date as of the reporting date. Cohort year is determined using the date reported in the First Date of Entry into Grade 9 field in the school year in which the last enrollment record occurred. For more information on cohorts, see Appendix V in the SIRS Manual.

Aggregations

Aggregations are done at five different levels:

If a school shows student data in more than one district:

Closed schools/districts:

Suppression

To ensure student confidentiality, the Department does not publish data for groups with fewer than five students or data that would allow readers to easily determine the performance of a group with fewer than five students.

Graduates and Graduation Rate

Graduation rate is calculated using the number of graduates (see the breakdown below) as of the indicated reporting date divided by the total cohort.

Graduates

Students whose last enrollment record had one of the following exit codes in SIRS:

Completers

This includes graduates and students whose last enrollment exit record was:

More information on entry and exit enrollment codes as well as credential codes can be found in the SIRS Manual.

Gender

Gender of the student being reported, as identified by the student. Beginning in SY 2021-22, nonbinary students are included in cohort outcomes.

GED (HSE) Students

Students enrolled in an Approved High School Equivalency Program (AHSEP) or a High School Equivalency Program (HSEP) are counted as non-completers, but not as dropouts. The exception to this is when a student transfers to an AHSEP/HSEP, but no enrollment record for that program is reported prior to the end of the same school year.

Economically Disadvantaged

Students are designated as Economically Disadvantaged if they were reported with a 0198 (Poverty – from low income family) program service code in SIRS at any point during the reporting year.

English Language Learners (ELL)

Students are designated ELLs if they were reported as such in SIRS during the reporting school year.

Homeless

Students are designated Homeless if they were reported with an 8262 (Homeless Student Status) program service code in SIRS at any point during the reporting school year.

In Foster Care

Students are designated In Foster Care if they were reported with an 8300 (Child in Foster Care) program service code in SIRS at any point during the reporting school year.

Migrant

Students are designated Migrant if they were reported with a 0330 (Title I - Part C: Education of Migratory Children) program service code in SIRS at any point during the reporting school year.

Parent in Armed Forces

Students are designated as Parent in Armed Forces if they were reported with an 8292 (Student with a Parent on Active Duty in the Armed Forces) program service code in SIRS at any point during the reporting school year.

Students with Disabilities (SWD)

Students are designated SWDs if they were reported as such in SIRS during the reporting school year.

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