Calif. releases revised dropout rates

The state Thursday released revised dropout and graduation rates for the 2006-2007 school year, and the news is slightly better than originally reported.

Using state wide student identifiers for the first time, the state reported the dropout rate to be 21.5 percent, nearly three points lower than reported in July.

The graduation rate went up slightly to 67.7 percent.

The new system more accurately tracks students who drop out, transfer or stay enrolled even though they have not yet graduated.