Duval's Graduation Rate Drops Under Federal Calculaton | News

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Duval County's graduation rate took a hit following the calculation of federal rules now being used to determine the percentage of students who graduate in four years.

In December, the Florida Department of Education released statewide numbers that put the state's graduation rate at 80%, but the federal calculation drops the number to 70%.

The federal graduation rate counts students who receive standard diplomas within four years.  The state had counted students who received special diplomas.

In Duval County the calculation change resulted in an 8% drop with the federal formula lowering the graduation rate to 63%. In December, the state graduation figure gave Duval its highest percentage ever with 71%.

Duval County school board chairperson Betty Burney was not upset with the federal formula.

"I think what they are trying to do is get everybody uniform," said Burney.

Clay, Nassau and St. Johns county schools also saw their graduation rates drop under the federal calculation.  The rates in those school districts are still above the state average  with St. Johns graduation rate one of the highest in the state at 86%.