Graduation rates in the Tigard-Tualatin school district has grown surprising amounts within the past year. Rising almost 3% from 2012, the staff at T.T.S.D. couldn’t be any happier.

According to the Oregon Department of Education, 83.8% of the 970 students enrolled at the Durham Center, Tigard High School and Tualatin High School in 2009 graduated this past spring.  Showing a slight increase from the 81.2% graduation rate  in 2012.

Tualatin High School produced the highest on time graduation rates in the district, at a sky-high 89%. A total of 7% higher than Tigard’s on time graduation rate for 2013, an 82%. Durham Center also had a close 81%. Out of the 84% of graduates, 71.9% enrolled into college.

Portlandpulse.com shows that the state average is a surprising 69%, almost 15% lower than the Tigard-Tualatin percentage.

Superintendent Ernie Brown is very pleased with the rise in on-time graduation rates, but acknowledges the fact that there is more work to be done.

“Improved graduation results are only achieved by the persistent efforts by staff members at every level of the school system,” said Brown. “This achievement is a positive reflection of the hard work that is taking place at every school, every day.”

Based on the increase in graduates, the district is heading in the right direction. Tigard-Tualatin school district is much higher than the rate achieved by high schools with similar demographics.

If teachers and students continue putting in the hard work that they have been, they could potentially reach Ernie Brown’s goal of “every student leaving the school district as a high school graduate.”