Even as Florida's overall enrollment dropped last year, the number of high school students earning regular diplomas rose by 4.42 percent while the number of dropouts declined by 24.4 percent, according to newly released statistics.

In raw numbers, that's 11,508 fewer students who dropped out in 2007-08 than the year before, and 6,019 more students who graduated from high school. Also, the state had 26,947 fewer students who were retained in 2007-08 than in 2006-07.

Locally, the numbers looked like this (change in graduates, dropouts and retentions):

• Pinellas: 4.92 percent; -40.77 percent; -20.5 percent
• Hernando: 7.41 percent, -11.79 percent; 3.92 percent
• Hillsborough: 3.01 percent, -6.28 percent; -9.66 percent
• Pasco: 10.65 percent; -38.56 percent; 8.12 percent

To see the complete spreadsheets, click on the links: dropout data, graduates data
and non-promotions data.

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