Dec 05, 2017
Kids are graduating from high school at higher rates, extending a trend starting with the standardization of graduation rates in 2011. It might be too soon to celebrate, though...
In the midst of uncertain education policy times, a light: from 2015 to 2016, United States 4-year high school graduation rates rose by 1% to 84.1%, topping off a consistent increase since 2011, when the graduation rate hovered at 79% nationwide.
The news was released by the U.S. Department of Education via the Washington Post on December 4th and includes a breakdown by student demographic. Again, good news: all minority groups saw a rise in on-time graduation rates. However, the report highlights that significant gaps do exist between different groups, with black students graduating at a rate of 76% and Hispanic students graduating 79% of the time.
So how does improving graduation impact the overall health of the K-12 system? Not really at all, according to the article. Scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, a test of reading and math achievement, have stagnated or slipped in recent years.
Still, for an institution as large and nuanced as the US K-12 system, improved graduation rates are notable, especially coming out of President Obama's stated interest in the same. What say you? Is this progress?
Content and image credit: Washington Post - U.S. high school graduation rates rise to new high https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2017/12/04/u-s-high-school-graduation-rates-rise-to-new-high/
