California’s graduation rate has increased for the seventh year in a row and is now at a record high for the class of 2016, at 83%. Meanwhile, rates continue to be much higher in Nevada County. It’s 94% at Nevada Union High School, a slight drop of about half-a-point. It’s 98% at Bear River High, UP about a point-and-a-half. The numbers haven’t fluctuated that much here in recent years. Nevada Joint Union High School District Superintendent Louise Johnson says new state academic standards, adopted 3 years ago, are more relevant, especially with testing…

click to listen to Louise Johnson

Along with the record rise in the state’s graduation rate, fewer students are dropping out. The dropout rate was down another point, at 9.8%. But at Bear River High School, the rate is, once again, zero. It went up about half-a-point at Nevada Union High School, but it’s still just 1.3%. Johnson says the district offers many options to keep local rates low…

click to listen to Louise Johnson

Johnson says the district is also paying a lot more attention to the mental health of students.