High school dropout rates are relatively low in the Bay Area. Seven of nine counties do better than the state as a whole with the highest rate, in Santa Clara County, at about 27 out of every 1,000 students. But in an era where a college degree is required for more and more jobs, any number is too many.

Here, county by county, are the highest adjusted rate of ninth- through 12th-graders who dropped out of school.#1. Santa Clara — 2.7% of high school students drop out#2. San Francisco — 2.6% of high school students drop out #3. Sonoma — 2.4% of high school students drop out#4. Solano — 2.4% of high school students drop out#5. Alameda — 1.9% of high school students drop out#6. San Mateo — 1.4% of high school students drop out#7. Contra Costa — 1.3% of high school students dropout#8. Marin — 1.2% of high school students drop out#9. Napa — 1.2% of high school students drop out[bar color=”Accent-Color” title=”#1. Santa Clara — 2.7%” percent=”2.7″][bar color=”Extra-Color-1″ title=”#2. San Francisco — 2.6%” percent=”2.6″][bar color=”Accent-Color” title=”#3. Sonoma — 2.4%” percent=”2.4″][bar color=”Extra-Color-1″ title=”#4. Solano — 2.4%” percent=”2.4″][bar color=”Accent-Color” title=”#5. Alameda — 1.9%” percent=”1.9″][bar color=”Extra-Color-1″ title=”#6. San Mateo — 1.4%” percent=”1.4″][bar color=”Accent-Color” title=”#7. Contra Costa — 1.3%” percent=”1.3″][bar color=”Extra-Color-1″ title=”#8. Marin — 1.2%” percent=”1.2″][bar color=”Accent-Color” title=”#9. Napa — 1.2%” percent=”1.2″]Interestingly two of the wealthiest counties in the Bay Area, San Francisco and Santa Clara, have the worst dropout rates, trailed closely by two of the least wealthy, Sonoma and Solano.

Source: California Department of Education

Daniel J. Willis

EdSource