R.I. high school graduation rate reaches high of 83%

PROVIDENCE – The four-year high school graduation rate in Rhode Island rose by 2 percentage points to 83 percent for the Class of 2015, according to a news release from Gov. Gina M. Raimondo and the state Department of Education.
This graduation rate, Rhode Island’s highest ever, includes students who entered high school in the 2011-2012 school year. Among that class, 8.6 percent of students are still in school, in need of more time to earn a diploma, 1.5 percent are in GED programs and 6.7 percent have dropped out of school, state officials said in an embargoed press release.
Raimondo recognized North Providence High School for attaining the state’s highest graduation rate of 98 percent. Across the state, 24 high schools had a graduation rate of 90 percent or better. Four schools – Burrillville High School, Central High School and Mount Pleasant High School, both in Providence, and Rogers High School in Newport, improved by 10 percentage points or more since the previous year, she said.
“We have made good progress this year, but we still have a long road ahead to get to where we need to be,” Raimondo said. “Going forward, we need to continue to improve graduation rates and we need to be sure a diploma truly signifies that our graduates have the skills that matter for jobs that pay.”
Improvement was seen across all student groups, with graduation rates among black students up 5.2 points from last year, Hispanic students up 5.6 points, low-income students up 4.5 points, students with disabilities up 7.5 points and English learners up 4.5 points.
Offering congratulations to students, parents and teachers, Board of Education Chair Barbara S. Cottam said, “We need to continue this progress in the years ahead, ensuring that every student is engaged in learning and is building the skills that matter for the workforce of tomorrow.”
Education Commissioner Ken Wagner emphasized that Rhode Island needs to “close the gap between completion and readiness while making sure that all students are on a pathway leading them toward a diploma and industry-recognized credentials.” Empowering schools and families while focusing on advanced coursework and personalized instruction are ways to achieve this goal,

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