Fewer minority students graduated from Utah high schools in 2008 than in the year before, the State Board of Education was told Friday.

"This is a very telling story that is unfortunately little surprise," said Judy Park, Utah State Office of Education associate superintendent of data, assessment and accountability. "This is certainly very concerning."

A total of 88 percent of Utah's 31,268 students graduated in 2007. That percentage remained the same in 2008, with 33,447 students graduating. Data are still being collected for the class of 2009 because high-school students had until the end of September to complete credits.

There are glaring differences from year to year, however, when examining race.

Graduation rates of Hispanic students slid from 72 percent to 69 percent, and those of American Indian students decreased from 75 percent to 72 percent. The graduation rates of Asian students dipped from 91 percent to 89 percent, and those of African-American students dropped from 77 percent to 73 percent. Meanwhile, graduation rates for white students rose from 90 percent to 91 percent.

"We have a lot of work to do to get people to continue to focus on individual children and follow every child," said State Superintendent Larry Shumway.

Other groups showed differences in graduation rates when compared to the state's students as a whole.

The rates for students with limited English-language skills plummeted from 75 percent to 65 percent. But the graduation rates for economically disadvantaged students increased from 77 percent to 78 percent, while those of students with disabilities rose from 77 percent to 80 percent.

Data further reveal that the majority of students who drop out do so in the 12th grade. "Reality has hit. They're not getting a diploma. They leave discouraged," Park said.

Of the class of 2008, a total of 2,995 dropped out as seniors, while 664 left in their junior year and 429 exited as sophomores, according to state education data.

Sheree Lewis, who teaches at Independence High School, an alternative school in Provo, said she believes kids are dropping out because they aren't engaged in education.

"They really don't understand they have to have an education to really have a future," Lewis said. "They think if they're making $8 an hour, they can survive on that. They don't understand the realities of life."

Lewis added she believes school needs to be a fun place where students enjoy learning and feel safe. "School needs to be the better choice, where they are getting what they need right now," she said.

To view the entire graduation report, go to www.usoe.k12.ut.us/main/DATA-STATISTICS/Graduation-Rates.aspx.

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