Oregon

Oregon's graduation rate holds steady at 81.3%, 2nd-highest on record; La Pine HS sees big gains in Class of '23 – KTVZ

Published

2 years ago

January 25, 2024

Oregon's graduation rate holds steady at 81.3%, 2nd-highest on record; La Pine HS sees big gains in Class of '23 – KTVZ

Students who take career, tech ed (CTE) classes have 95% rate

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The statewide graduation rate for the class of 2023 is 81.3 percent, tying the previous class as the second-highest graduation rate ever recorded in Oregon, according to data released Thursday by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE).

While the overall rate held steady, some student groups reached all-time highs for graduation, including former English Learners (87.6%) and Migrant students (81.6%).

“These 37,700 graduates overcame historic challenges to earn their diploma. During their journey to graduation the class of 2023 endured the full, multi-year impact of COVID and its aftermath,” said Dr. Charlene Williams, Oregon Department of Education director.

“Each diploma represents an inspiring step forward for a student, their loved ones, and their community. With impressive grit and resourcefulness they worked their way through the jarring and isolating impacts of the pandemic to earn their education. We need to maintain high expectations and provide high levels of support that will lead to academic excellence for all of our students.

“Each and every child from birth through 5th grade must be set up for success in learning to read and reading to learn and be provided opportunities to find their path to graduation success and their dream career,” Williams added.

Governor Tina Kotek said, “I am never satisfied when it comes to our kids. We will continue working hard to improve results in the coming school years.

“Still, it’s important that we are seeing some positive results in key areas where the state has been targeting resources, such as career and technical education and supporting English Language Learners. This targeted approach to success is working for our students, so let’s do more of that, and I hope lawmakers support summer learning investment in the 2024 session,” Kotek said.

Student Group	Class of 2022	Class of 2023	Percentage Point Change
All Students	81.3	81.3	0.0
Asian	92.1	92.1	0.0
Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander	74.6	75.9	+1.3
American Indian/ Alaska Native	68.9	68.2	-0.7
Black/ African American	73.7	73.1	-0.6
Hispanic/ Latino	78.7	78.6	-0.1
White	82.5	82.6	+0.1
Multi-Racial	79.7	79.8	+0.1
Female	84.2	83.6	-0.6
Male	78.8	79.4	+0.6
Non-Binary	72.0	71.8	-0.2
Economically Disadvantaged	80.7	80.7	0.0
Not Economically Disadvantaged	83.4	83.6	+0.2
English Learners Anytime in High School	65.3	68.1	+2.8
Former English Learners	86.4	87.6	+1.2
Never English Learners	81.7	81.5	-0.2
Special Education	67.5	68.6	+1.1
Not Special Education	83.7	83.5	-0.2
Talented and Gifted	95.5	96.3	+0.8
Not Talented and Gifted	80.0	79.8	-0.2
Migrant	81.4	81.6	+0.2
Homeless	58.6	60.6	+2.0
In Foster Care	48.4	46.9	-1.5
Military Connected	—	86.7	—
Career and Tech. Ed Participants	89.0	88.8	-0.2
Career and Tech. Ed Concentrators	93.0	95.0	+2.0
Students Recently Arrived	—	63.3	—
Students with Experience in Incarceration or Detention	—	35.8	—

Other key findings include:

Students completing two credits in an approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program of Study significantly exceeded the statewide average, graduating at a rate of 95.0 percent.
Former English Learners – students who have successfully completed English Learner programs prior to entering high school in Oregon – graduated at 87.6 percent, 6 percentage points higher than the statewide average and an all-time high for that student group.
Special Education students also saw the highest graduation rate for that student group at 68.6 percent.
The graduation rate for students experiencing houselessness increased 2 percentage points to 60.6 percent which is also a record high for that student group.
For the first time, graduation rates are reported for military connected students (86.7%), students with experience in incarceration or detention (35.8%) and students recently arrived (63.3%).

—

News release from Bend-La Pine Schools

Graduation Rate Rises Sharply for La Pine High School

2023 graduation rate for Bend-La Pine Schools is 83.6 percent

La Pine High School’s graduation rate improved nearly 11 percentage points last year, with an especially high rate among students taking Career Technical Education classes.

The school’s 2023 graduation rate was 70 percent, an increase of 10.9 percentage points from 2022, according to data released Thursday by the Oregon Department of Education.

Nearly all La Pine students receiving multiple credits in a CTE program area graduated in 2023 – gains of roughly 20 percentage points over the prior year.

“I’m very happy and proud of our staff that we have double-digit gains,” La Pine High Principal Scott Olszewski said. “We have great teachers in La Pine, and we offer a lot for a small high school, from our Career Technical Education offerings to fantastic music and theater programs and world language.”

Olszewski credited the relevancy and high engagement that CTE programs offer for helping boost the school’s graduation rate in 2023. Program areas include natural resource science, manufacturing technology and metals, criminal justice and law, and business management.

This year the school added an Education Foundations class, in alignment with Central Oregon Community College, for students to explore the field of education and lesson planning. This spring students will apply their knowledge to a 60-hour practicum, partnering with educators at Rosland and La Pine elementary schools and La Pine Middle School.

Continuity in staffing, including administrators, counselors, and the school-to-career coordinator, is another factor in student success, Olszewski said. The small 2023 class of 82 graduates also benefited from strong relationships with teachers and support staff who are invested in the La Pine community, he added.

“With our classified staff, most if not all live in La Pine, from custodial and nutrition services to our library and front office staff. I think that’s huge,” he said.

Bend-La Pine Schools graduated 1,260 students last year for an overall graduation rate of 83.6 percent – a slight increase from 2022 and the second-highest completion rate in the past 12 years. The statewide graduation rate was 81.3 percent for 2023.

About the Numbers: The graduation rate tracks students beginning in ninth grade and measures how many of those students graduate within four years. The rate is adjusted for students moving in or out of the district.

Bend-La Pine Schools’ 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Over Time:

· 2022-23: 83.6 percent

· 2021-22: 83.5 percent

· 2020-21: 82.4 percent

· 2019-20: 85.9 percent

· 2018-19: 80.6 percent

· 2017-18: 81.9 percent

· 2016-17: 78.7 percent

· 2015-16: 77.5 percent

· 2014-15: 77.2 percent

· 2013-14: 77.2 percent

· 2012-13: 78.6 percent

· 2011-12: 72.2 percent

School-Specific 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate for 2022-23:

· Bend Senior High: 86.9 percent

· Bend Tech Academy (formerly BTA at Marshall High School): 69.2 percent

· La Pine High: 70 percent

· Mountain View High: 86.3 percent

· Realms High: 92.3 percent

· Summit High: 95.2 percent

Caldera High School’s first senior class will graduate this June.

Source link

Oregon

Texas man wanted for child sex crimes, theft arrested in SW Oregon

Published

15 minutes ago

June 23, 2026

Press Room

Texas man wanted for child sex crimes, theft arrested in SW Oregon

CURRY COUNTY, Ore. (KPTV) – A Texas man wanted for child sex crimes was arrested in Curry County on Tuesday afternoon.

The Curry County Sheriff’s Office says Kenneth Leatherwood of Bastrop, Texas, was arrested with the help of Oregon State Police and U.S. Marshals just after 12:30 p.m.

Kenneth Leatherwood(Curry County Sheriff’s Office)

Leatherwood, who is accused of sex-related crimes involving a child in Texas, was reportedly found camping in a heavy wooded area near Lucas Lodge in Agness.

Investigators say Leatherwood has been on the run from Curry County law enforcement since June 16 after reports that he had been seen with a stolen car in the Agness area.

Leatherwood was also believed to have stolen weapons with him.

His dog was also found and returned to the suspect’s family in good shape, according to the sheriff’s office.

Source link

Oregon

Fireworks on sale in Oregon until July 6

Published

11 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Press Room

Fireworks on sale in Oregon until July 6

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – Fireworks are on sale in Oregon until July 6, but state and local rules limit where they can be used and what types are allowed.

In Portland, fireworks use and sales are banned year-round.

Fireworks are also banned on beaches and in state and national parks.

Statewide, fireworks that fly into the air, explode, act unpredictably or move more than 12 feet horizontally are illegal. Banned fireworks include sky lanterns, missiles, rockets, Roman candles, firecrackers, cherry bombs and M-80s.

Fountains, sparklers, ground spinners and smoke devices are among the fireworks allowed under state rules.

Officials said people should not call 911 to report illegal fireworks. They said reports should go to the non-emergency line for the area.

First responders said there were 263 fires across Portland during last year’s fireworks season, and 27 were caused by fireworks.

For more details about fireworks regulation in Oregon, click here.

In Washington, fireworks sales legally begin Sunday and run through July 4.

Source link

Oregon

Gray whale carcass washes ashore in Gearhart on Oregon coast

Published

21 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Press Room

Gray whale carcass washes ashore in Gearhart on Oregon coast

GEARHART, Ore. (KATU) — Another gray whale washed up on the Oregon coast last week, this time in Gearhart, according to Seaside Aquarium.

The 41-foot-long male had been dead for months before washing up on the beach, Seaside Aquarium general manager Keith Chandler said.

He noted that there have been 19 total whale strandings or carcasses washing up on beaches just this year on the Oregon coast region.

The Cascadia Research Collective is reporting at least 30 on Washington coastline alone. | TIMELINE

Of those deaths, more than half were at least partially attributed to malnutrition. That could have been the cause in more strandings, however, necropsies were not performed in roughly a dozen of the 30 strandings.

Chandler said strong wind from the west this year has been contributing to why coastal towns are seeing a lot of whales and other things washing up on shore. However he also noted that many of the Grey whales washed ashore were emaciated with necropsies showing signs of malnourishment.

“The food sources have been compromised. The warmer water means the nutrients that they’re getting aren’t as good, so the whole food chain is kind of not as healthy,” Chandler said.

He pointed to the warming waters with climate change as the main reason noting that warm water plankton–Grey Whale’s main food source–is thinner and has fewer nutrients than plankton in cooler waters.

Chandler says this whale will not have a necropsy done because of its level of decomposition.

“The fresher ones, the team from Portland State [University] will come down and they’ll go in and do measurements, take samples and stuff, measurements of the internal organs. But on one this decayed, you won’t gain anything from it scientifically. And it’s just kind of a mess to do when they’re this rotten,” he said.