Oklahoma schools lose more than 25 percent of students

<br> <br>(Oklahoma City-AP) -- State education officials say public schools lose more than 25 percent of students between ninth grade and graduation. <br><br>Statistics show 27 percent of high school students

Wednesday, August 6th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- State education officials say public schools lose more than 25 percent of students between ninth grade and graduation.

Statistics show 27 percent of high school students who could have graduated in 2002, did not. Nationwide, 33 percent of high school freshmen don't graduate.

The number of disappearing students in the state's largest districts are even higher.

The Oklahoma City School District lost 56 percent of its students between the ninth and 12th grades. The Tulsa District lost 49 percent.

School officials say they're not sure where the students are going, but say not all are dropouts. Some move, some go to private school, some are home schooled and others receive the general equivalency diploma.

Some die in traffic accidents.

The Oklahoma Business and Education Coalition will help design a system to track students from their freshman through senior years.