Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/97647
GOOD SCHOOL TRENDS The School Board members consider business during their last meeting of the year. Photo by Scott Proffitt SARASOTA COUNTY SCHOOLS SEE AN INCREASE IN THE GRADUATION RATE AND A DECREASE IN THE DROPOUT RATE By Scott Proffitt Staff Writer The Sarasota County School District saw a 7 percent increase in its graduation rate from the 2010-11 school year to the 2011-12 school year, Steve Cantees, executive director of Sarasota County High Schools, told the School Board members during their final meeting of the year, on Dec. 4. Since 1999, he said, the district and state rates had climbed almost 20 percent. "The federal requirements for a standard diploma increase every year," he pointed out. "We had a significant increase in the last year, both in the county and the state," Cantees added. "We were very reassured that we had a significant increase in our graduation rate," Superintendent Lori White said. "We are looking at this data. We are We're still using $12 million in concerned that we reserves each year, and we have no plan will continue to have a for how we're going to quit using those safety net for our students, with constant, reserves. ever-increasing federFrank Kovach al standards for profiMember ciency requirements to School Board get a diploma."