RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - The state’s dropout rate rose to 2.39 percent from 2.28 percent the previous year according to a new report presented to the state Board of Education.

The .11 percentage point increase was the first increase in the dropout rate since 2006-07, when the dropout rate increased from 5.04 to 5.24, according to the Department of Public Instruction.

In 2014-15, 11,190 students dropped out of school. The year before that, 10,404 students dropped out.

Other key findings of the 2014-15 Consolidated Data Report show that:

•  Students dropped out most frequently at 10th grade (30 percent), followed by 9th grade (28.1 percent).

•  The number of high school students dropping out increased at all grade levels and for all ethnic groups except Asian, which decreased.

•  Males accounted for 62 percent of reported dropouts, which was down from the 62.7 percent reported last year.

•  Attendance issues were again the reason most often cited for dropping out, accounting for 40.3 percent of all dropouts. Enrollment in a community college came in second at 15.8 percent.

 
The annual dropout rate illustrates the number and percentage of students who drop out during one year’s time. Some of these students may return to school the following year and complete high school while others may drop out multiple times.

The full report containing state, district and charter high school dropout counts and rates for 2014-15 is available online.