The Clark County School District just issued a new report that shows the student dropout rate is declining. According to those new statistics, the actual current dropout rate is 6.8 percent—over a one percent drop from the previous reported dropout figure.

Improvement on the math portion of the Nevada Proficiency Exam was one reason given for the decline in dropouts. In my opinion, Nevada takes an unfair hit when it comes to explaining the drop out rate for students who fail to graduate. In reality, some students who are counted as statistical dropouts, don't actually drop out at all.

There are a number of factors that impact the Nevada dropout rate. For instance, the large number of students who come to Nevada from other states who register and attend school here, but who leave and return to school in another state. In many instances former students don't leave a paper trail to indicate where they may have reenrolled in school after leaving here. Students in this category are considered dropouts despite the fact that at least some of them have reenrolled elsewhere in another state. And that's not the only reason, either.

Consider then the local "competition factor"—where students purposely drop out to pursue a lucrative job offer in the hotel-hospitality industry or some other well-paying profession. We have all heard anecdotal accounts of high school students dropping out of school to become parking attendants for high five-figure salaries. While that may not be specifically true, we know that even without a diploma, a young person in Nevada can earn as much or more than their former teachers earned in a year.

Let's face it. Nevada isn't the friendliest state when it comes to fostering and supporting students staying in school and graduating. No matter what the official statistics indicate, Nevada's public schools are in direct competition with private sector employers. School districts seek to retain students in school until they graduate and the private sector expresses a need for a well-trained workforce with at least a high school diploma.

On the other hand, service and tourism-related private sector employers who support education, but have an overriding need to fill positions vital to sustain their own economic interests.

Retaining students in school until they graduate is just one piece of the puzzle. Student achievement is the ultimate goal. Another significant element of student success is parental involvement and support. By and large when parents support their children's education, the students perform better in school. Everyone should rally behind the school district to ensure our schools have the support necessary to engage parents in children's education in a meaningful way.

To that end, it takes all of us working together to ensure that our children get the education they deserve and need to succeed in our Great American Society.


Watch Ray weekly on the K–12 television newsmagazine show, "Inside Education," which airs Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6:00 p.m. on KLVX-TV Channel 10.