COLUSA COUNTY, CA (MPG) – Colusa County Superintendent of Schools Michael West and other education officials in the north state said the recent Newsweek article that Californians struggle the most to graduate high school does not reflect an accurate portrayal of the educational landscape.
According to the Newsweek report, written by a senior reporter from the UK, California ranks eighth in the U.S. for the quality of education, yet has the lowest number of high school diploma holders in the country.
West said the article raises particular concern because of the reporter’s use of information from the 2020 Census to assess educational attainment of individuals over the age of 25, without considering where the adult individuals received their education.
“The article heavily relies on US census report data,” West said. “It inaccurately portrays Colusa County’s educational standing by selectively reporting dropout rates, without appropriate context or current local educational achievements.”
Newsweek reported Monterey County had the highest dropout rate in California at 27.39%; Colusa County surprisingly was No. 2, with a 26.4% dropout rate, which West said was inaccurate. Had the reporter checked the California Department of Education’s School Dashboard for 2023, she would have discovered Colusa High School has a 92.1% graduation rate; Maxwell 94.7%; Pierce 99.1%; and Williams 90.2%.
West said the inaccuracy was the result of Newsweek using data that failed to consider whether individuals ages 25 and older were educated in Colusa County and neglected critical factors, such as immigration into the country for temporary residence due to employment when the Census was underway.
According to the U.S. Census, 27% of California’s population is foreign-born, making it the state with the highest share of foreign-born residents (13.9% from Mexico) – more than double the percentage in other states. Texas and New York, which is also among the states with the highest immigration of foreign-born individuals, also had the highest number of individuals 25 and older who may not have had the opportunity to complete high school before settling in the U.S., although Newsweek did not report a correlation between the two.
“This is particularly pertinent given that our county like many others is reliant upon agricultural sectors and hosts a substantial number of immigrant residents,” West said. “So, these omissions not only misrepresent the actual impact of the quality of our educational system, but also overlook the contributions of these residents to our community’s economy and social fabric by painting an incomplete picture.”
West said the true graduation rates in Colusa County contradict the implication made by the Newsweek article and showcase the dedication and the effectiveness of Colusa County’s educational institutions, including adult education, which has seen a dramatic rise in recent years in the number of individuals over the age of 18 who seek high school diplomas.
“I believe it’s crucial for our community to be aware of the full context and the remarkable educational progress being made by all of our superintendents, all of our administrators, and especially our teachers,” West said. “I hope moving forward, we can get more comprehensive and accurate reporting that reflects the true educational landscape of Colusa County.”
Newsweek did not respond to the Pioneer Review’s request for comment.