CIM Completion Rate Uneven in Oregon

The percentage of graduates earning a CIM decreased this year from 37% to 31%.

Susan Castillo, Oregon Superintendant of Public Schools Photo by: Tim King

(SALEM) - State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced Wednesday that a total of 37,912 students completed four years of high school in 2006.

The class of 2006 was slightly larger (37,912) than the class of 2005 (36,859).

Of the total, 33,083 students earned a regular diploma – 10,345 with a CIM (Certificate of Initial Mastery) and another 22,738 without a CIM.

The percentage of graduates earning a CIM decreased this year from 37% to 31%.

CIM completion rates are as follows: 2006 (31%); 2005 (37%); 2004 (33%); 2003 (32%); 2002 (31%); 2001 (26%).

“Students earning a CIM have met all state standards in writing, math, reading, science, and public speaking, and the CIM represents a high level of achievement,” Castillo said.

“I appreciate the hard work it takes for students to reach these standards. However, the CIM is not required in order to graduate, and it is not well-understood and widely accepted. Working with the State Board of Education and our partners across the state, Oregon has developed new high school requirements that make sense to students, parents, educators, employers and colleges. We have built the new diploma on a solid foundation of high standards and high achievement. The big difference is that the new diploma makes high achievement a requirement for all students in order to graduate from an Oregon high school – and I believe that is a significant improvement.”

A Closer Look at the Class of 2006 – Oregon Public High School Completers:

• Regular Diplomas with CIM = 10,345
• Regular Diplomas without CIM = 22,738
• Modified = 1,159 (earned by students in special education programs)
• Honorary = 470 (usually given to foreign exchange students)
• Four Years/No Diploma = 3,200 (did not earn a diploma and did not drop out; these students generally fell a credit or two short of meeting graduation requirements and planned to finish over the summer or during the following school year)

The new requirements include 3 years of science (for the graduating class of 2012); 3 years of math with content at the Algebra 1 level or above (graduating class of 2014); 3 credits in any of the following - arts/applied arts/second language (graduating class of 2012); and demonstrate a set of essential skills, such as read and interpret a variety of texts, write for a variety of purposes, speak and present publicly, apply mathematics in a variety of settings, use technology, think critically and analytically (including application of scientific inquiry), demonstrate civic responsibility, and others.

According to CollegeBoard, many in Oregon’s class of 2006 already graduate with four years of English, three years of math, three years of science, and two years of foreign language.

In February, the State Board created an Implementation Advisory Task Force to assist and advise them as they set policy to implement the state’s new graduation requirements.

The task force will address specific issues that emerged during the discussion of the diploma requirements, including the requirement of essential skills, standards, assessments, credit by proficiency, and cost/capacity issues.

Governor Kulongoski’s 2007-09 budget includes $10 million to assist school districts in preparing to meet the new diploma requirements.

For more information on this report, visit our website at High School Completers