Wake's high school graduation rate has dropped more than what was previously reported.
The state released this month revised graduation rates for individual school districts. In Wake, the overall 4-year graduation rate is 78.4 percent. It had been reported at 78.6 percent in August.
The graduation rate also dropped since August for several Wake groups, including low-income students.
The 2008-09 graduation data was originally presented on Aug. 6 as part of the ABCs of Public Education report. Lou Fabrizio, director of accountability policy for the state Department of Public Instruction, said districts were given 30 days from that point to report changes.
Wake's corrected data saw several changes among individual groups and the overall percentage.
Wake's new graduation rate for economically disadvantaged students is 54.2 percent. It had been originally reported at 54.6 percent.
The winning school board candidates had focused on the graduation rate for ED students during the campaign. The state rate for these kids is 61.8 percent.
For Wake's black students, it's now 63.4 percent instead of 63.6 percent.
Hispanic students are at 51.1 percent. They had been at 51.7 percent in August.
Limited English proficient students are now at 38.9 percent instead of 39.5 percent.
Students with disabilities are now at 56.8 percent instead of 57.1 percent.
Wake has a pretty good overall graduation rate compared to the nation's largest districts.
Wake's overall graduation rate is still above the state average of 71.7 percent. But the gap between Wake and the state has been shrinking.
Wake's graduation rate has been falling. It was 82.6 percent after the 2005-06 school year. It was 79.3 percent after 2006-07. It was 78.8 percent after the 2007-08 school year.
During that same time period, the state's four-year graduation rate has increased. It was 68.3 percent after 2005-06. It was 69.5 percent after 2006-07. It was at 70.3 percent after 2007-08.
Comments
That Chris Fitzsimon, NC
Tue, 10/27/2009 - 11:08 — AngelaWThat Chris Fitzsimon, NC Public Policy Watch, would dare write an article casting Wake County School Board District 2 candidate John Tedesco as a resegregationist has crossed every boundary.
http://venitapeyton.com/2009/10/resegregationalist.html
And that is a bad thing?
Tue, 10/27/2009 - 12:23 — user12345And that is a bad thing? Neighborhoods are segregated and neighborhood reflect that segregation ... returning everyone to their neighborhood school will increase the segregation (racially / economically)... so what, that is what the majority voted for if only unintentionally ...
You've got to be kidding me,
Tue, 10/27/2009 - 16:32 — jenmanYou've got to be kidding me, user. You don't see anything wrong with calling Tedesco a 'resegregationist'? I'm so tired of people like Bob Geary and Chris Fitzsimon using words to inflame people rather than actually looking at the issues. Fitzsimon may disagree with Tedesco's viewpoints, but to call him a resegregationist? Ridiculous and inflammatory.
L'user just uselessly seeks
Tue, 10/27/2009 - 17:12 — AngelaWL'user just uselessly seeks to inflame and incite...if you pay attention to his posts (I try not to anymore) you will see he flip-flops on a side of the fence to continue pot-stirring.....just imagine the possibility if he gets paid by the response......I would suggest to ALL ignoring him or question why he is REALLY so upset by this, what he stands to lose? property values maybe?
Libel and Slander??
Tue, 10/27/2009 - 11:55 — g88ky07Maybe! If some lawyers take a look at it they might very well get a twinkle in their eyes!
It isn't too bad. In fact,
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 19:19 — red_balloonIt isn't too bad. In fact, considering diversity goals are paramount, it is quite commendable that students are graduating.
“Wake has a pretty good
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 09:31 — user12345“Wake has a pretty good overall graduation rate compared to the nation's largest districts.
Wake's overall graduation rate is still above the state average of 71.7 percent. But the gap between Wake and the state has been shrinking.”
Could it be that as Wake becomes more diverse with a higher percentage of minorities that the “mix” is driving down the average to be more reflective of the rest of the state? As the percentage of White students decrease, the average will follow. So, an all White county might be at >90%, an all Black county might be at 63%, and all Hispanic 51% and an all LE would be 40%. The average for the county and state is reflective of the groups that are increasing / decreasing. So neglecting minorities and low wealth schools and relying on Whites to make the stats will ultimately fail, as Whites become a minority.
Possibly...
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 11:45 — Bob_SconceBut, I doubt it. I don't think that Wake's demographics are changing as fast as its graduation rate. Plus, why is Wake falling when the rest of the state is improving? I would have thought that we'd all have the same demographic pressures.
"I don't think that Wake's
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 12:39 — user12345"I don't think that Wake's demographics are changing as fast as its graduation rate."
It looks like the school system is converging on 1/3 White, 1/3 Black and 1/3 Hispanic in round numbers in the about 10 years. (page 66) It was 70% White ten years ago, 50% now and I assume 30% in ten more years using a straight line estimate.
http://www.wcpss.net/demographics/reports/book08a.pdf
I agree that the rest of the state may be doing a better job with their minority polulations. I am guessing we are investing a disporportional amount of resources in high wealth schools and may need to make adjustments if we are to affect the performance of these other populations (e.g. increase the class size in some schools and decrease it in others).
Even so...
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 12:58 — Bob_SconceSo, there are certainly demographic shifts. But, it still seems that Wake's graduating rates are declining faster than you would expect given the increase in populations that have historically low graduation rates.
I suspect that part of the difference may be higher graduation standards -- if you make it harder to graduate, fewer people will. While I'm all for setting high standards, I don't think it's appropriate for Wake to have a standard that says "graduation means you're ready for college." (Yet another reason that a Vocational high school makes great sense.)
wow ... good point ... I
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 19:59 — user12345wow ... good point ... I missed that viewpoint ... I was thinking the availablity of unskilled jobs might lure more away in this area.
Shouldn't an effective
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 08:27 — woodstockShouldn't an effective school system experience improvement over time? Why aren't the CCCAAC and the NAACP demanding change rather than fighting for more of the same? Makes no sense. Do they value politics over education? It is difficult to argue otherwise.
N&O article
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 08:09 — loriacWill there be an N&O article following up on this, asking for comments from Calla Wright and Rev Barber?
I think we need to hear
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 08:38 — g88ky07Stan Norwalk's take on all this as well. Although since his opinion is the same as theirs, probably not much difference! They'll all be together at their 12 person rally later this week, so maybe they will speak about something that's actually relative to today's reality then!
maybe NAACP should protest this?
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 08:03 — mike_cary"For Wake's black students, it's now 63.4 percent instead of 63.6 percent."
you can "thank" Wake Status-Quo Adminstration and outgoing boardmembers
Sadly enough
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 09:01 — Dadof3It's not achievement, but rather posturing, that matters to the "Keystone Cops of Education."