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According to the California Department of Education, while 87% of California’s high school students graduate, more than 20% of California Seniors fail to pass the high school exit exam. In March of 2005, Harvard researchers released a report revealing California’s actual overall graduation rate to be only 71%.
In 1978, California's per-pupil.spending exceeded the national average by $600. Today, despite increases in the cost of education, California's per-pupil spending is $600 below the national average.
Harvard’s report also noted that only 60% of the state’s Latino students and 57% of its African-American students graduate, and that the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) graduates less than 50% of its incoming freshmen on time. These data confirm what regional educators and families have experienced for many years: our public schools have been failing in their fundamental purpose of preparing students of all backgrounds for higher education and living wage jobs in the 21st century economy.
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