R.I. high school graduation rate improves in 2014

GOV. GINA M. Raimondo praised educators for their efforts to boost graduation rates, but said the momentum must continue. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MARK S. MURPHY
GOV. GINA M. Raimondo praised educators for their efforts to boost graduation rates, but said the momentum must continue. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MARK S. MURPHY

PROVIDENCE – The 2014 Rhode Island high school graduation rate improved by a percentage point, to 81 percent, the R.I. Department of Education reported Thursday.
At the same time, the dropout rate declined by a percentage point, to 8 percent, RIDE said.
National information on the 2014 graduation rates is not yet available, but earlier this month, when the U.S. Department of Education released data on the 2013 graduation rates, Rhode Island’s rate of 80 percent was 1 point below the national average and tied for 29th among all states.
Since 2009, the graduation rate has improved by 5.5 percentage points, while the dropout rate has improved by 6 percentage points, RIDE reported.
Combined, the annual graduation rate and dropout rate do not equal 100 percent of the graduating class, because the remainder includes students who have entered GED programs and students who are still in school and striving to earn a diploma at a later date, RIDE noted.
Looking at the six years of progress, Gov. Gina M. Raimondo praised educators for efforts to boost graduation rates.
“As we make creating opportunities for all Rhode Islanders a priority, we must continue this momentum to make sure our kids build the skills they need to compete in a 21st-century economy,” Raimondo said. “Earning a high-school diploma is one important component to making our state stronger for everyone.”
Patrick A. Guida, chairman of the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education, noted that the Community College of Rhode Island reported that the number of its new college students that need remedial classes was “down significantly.” According to CCRI, November data showed 66 percent of its new students needed remedial coursework, down from 69.5 percent in 2013, and 75.5 percent in 2012, RIDE said.
“2014 was a year in which we raised expectations for our high-school students, so it is especially pleasing to note that in 2014 we continued the trend of improvement – raising our graduation rates and reducing our dropout rates,” said Guida.
The improvements attained in 2014, especially in dropout rates, are consistent across a range of student groups, RIDE noted, including black, Hispanic, economically disadvantaged, disabled and English learner students.
For those students that need more than the traditional four years to complete their schoolwork and earn a diploma, RIDE said the 5-year graduation rate for 2014 improved by 3 points over the previous year and stands at 83.5 percent, a 5-point improvement since 2009. The 5-year graduation rate has also improved across student groups, RIDE said.
High schools with four-year graduation rates of 95 percent or higher in 2014 included the Block Island School, Classical High School in Providence, Cranston High School West, East Greenwich High School and Portsmouth High School.
Improving four-year rates by more than 5 percentage points over the past year are East Providence High School, the New England Laborers’/Cranston Public Schools Construction & Career Academy, Tiverton High School, Toll Gate High School in Warwick, West Warwick Senior High School and William E. Tolman Senior High School in Pawtucket.
The report is available HERE.

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