Since being labeled a “dropout factory” by a researcher from John Hopkins University, a term later recanted after a controversial research error, Oak Harbor School District officials say they have advanced their graduation tracking system.

The latest figures reveal that graduation rates have increased by 9 percent from 2007 and 2006.

An official report sent to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding the status of all students who have entered and exited Oak Harbor High School in the Class of 2008 shows that on-time rates for the ‘08 class were 81.9 percent and the extended graduation rate was 87.2 percent (for those students who took more than four years to graduate).

During November of last year, the John Hopkins study identified Oak Harbor’s high school as one of 22 “dropout factories” in Washington State.

As it turned out, the team was using the wrong numbers.

Researchers counted freshmen based on the year in school, while Oak Harbor officials count freshmen based on the number of credits they earn.

The one bright spot was that heat from the dropout scare actually helped school officials notice a problem with their definition of “dropout.”

Over the year, high school staff spent more effort and time to find out what happened to students once they left the high school. By these means, they were able to confirm student transfers that were previously listed as “unknown” and therefore counted as dropouts.

High School Principal Dwight Lundstrom said the 9 percent doesn’t necessarily represent an increase in rates, but a figure closer to the number they predicted.

School records may not follow a student if they are considered an at-risk child, homeless, or if their families haven’t had practice with transferring records, Lundstrom said. In these cases, a transfer can’t be confirmed.

By fixing the coding system and becoming more diligent with clerical work, graduation rates are now more accurate.

“Obviously we are pleased we found the problem and rectified it. We are making sure our bookkeeping is well done and meticulous. It speaks well for the school,” Lundstrom said.