FRANKFORT — Ninth grade, historically the year in which dropouts peak, lately has had the lowest dropout rate of all high school grades in Kentucky.

        Good news? Gene Wilhoit, the state's new education commissioner, isn't certain. It is a bit of data that needs exploration, Mr. Wilhoit said in an interview Thursday.

        “It could be that we're holding on to more ninth-graders,” he said. But if that were the case, Kentucky's numbers should bear it out in other ways, and they do not, Mr. Wilhoit said.

        “What's really troubling is that we've invested 12 years in a kid, and they're dropping out,” Mr. Wilhoit said.

        The ninth-grade dropout rate was 4.5 percent in the 1998-99 school year, the last year for which statistics are available. Rates for grades 10 through 12 were 5.2 percent, 5.4 percent and 4.9 percent, respectively.

        Sixteen is the age at which students can legally quit school. A fraction of total dropouts occurs in seventh and eighth grades.

        Northern Kentucky schools had one of the lowest overall dropout rates in the state for the 1998-99 school year.

        In Region 4, a 14-county area that includes Northern Kentucky — Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Grant, Gallatin, Pendleton, Owen, Carroll, Trimble, Henry, Owen, Oldham, Shelby and Spencer counties — the dropout rate was 3.91 compared to a statewide average of 4.97.

        The region also had one of the lowest retention rates in 1998 for grades 4-12, with a rate of 3.66 compared to the state rate of 4.03.

        It was the fourth time in the '90s — others were school years beginning in 1994, 1995 and 1997 — that the rate was lowest in ninth grade.

        Not so with retention rates. Without exception, the number of students being made to repeat a grade has risen dramatically in ninth grade. It was 12.6 percent in 1998-99. The second-highest retention rate, 6.9 percent, occurred at 10th grade.

        In terms of academics, “ninth grade is the first harsh reality” for most students, Mr. Wilhoit said. Studies indicate most dropouts fell far behind in school and saw no prospect of catching up, he said.

        In theory, repeating a grade should enable a student to make up ground. Mr. Wilhoit, who also testified to a legislative subcommittee, said it was reasonable to delve into whether retentions actually help or increase dropouts.

        Rep. Frank Rasche, chairman of the House Education Committee, questioned whether students in middle school were being “emotionally prepared” for high school.

        Rep. Mark Treesh, R-Owensboro, said the key is to get children hooked on school at an early age and do not allow them to fall behind. “I firmly believe that where we have our dropout rate is kindergarten and first grade,” Mr. Treesh said.

       Enquirer reporter Lori Hayes contributed to this report
       

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