Feds release new high school grad data using common yardstick; Georgia’s rate is 67 percent, putting us among bottom three.
Remember when Georgia used to say “Thank God for Mississippi and Alabama”?
With the release of new national high school graduation rates today, Georgia is now extending its thanks to Nevada and New Mexico, the only two states with lower graduation rates than Georgia.
Georgia has a 67 percent overall high school graduation rate, according to data released today by the U.S. Department of Education under a new nationwide measurement formula.
For the first time ever, the cohort method will allow apples to apples comparisons since every state is using it to calculate how many of their seniors graduate in four years.
And those apples aren’t pretty for Georgia, which is among the bottom three.
Among states, only New Mexico, 63 percent, and Nevada, 62 percent, posted lower rates. (Also below Georgia were Washington, D.C., 59 percent, and the Bureau of Indian Education, 61 percent.)
Prior to the cohort method being adopted, states used a hodgepodge of methods — and a bit of voodoo math – to calculate their grad rates, often favoring formulas that provided too glowing a picture of how many kids actually received diplomas in four years. Georgia was among them, touting a grad rate of 80 percent.
Georgia does not fare well compared to its Southern neighbors. For example, Alabama has a 72 percent grad rate, while Mississippi has a 75 percent rate and Louisiana has a 71 percent rate.
South Carolina has a 74 percent rate, and North Carolina has a 78 percent grad rate. Tennessee has an 86 percent rate, which puts it among the top performers in the country. Virginia has an 82 percent rate.
Here is a link to the list of states.
What hurts Georgia’s ranking is its acute failure to graduate students with disabilities and students with limited English. Only three out of 10 students in those two categories graduates, putting us well behind most of the nation.
If I were DOE, I would be looking for explanations for why Georgia does so poorly with these kids. Yes, they are among the most challenging students to educate, but other states are doing far better with them, so there must be strategies we ought to consider.
Here are the Georgia grad rates broken down by demographics:
Asians: 79 percent
Black students: 60 percent
Hispanic: 58 percent
Whites: 76 percent
Students with disabilities: 30 percent
Limited English: 32 percent
Economically disadvantaged: 59 percent
According to US DOE:
The U.S. Department of Education released data today detailing state four-year high school graduation rates in 2010-11 – the first year for which all states used a common, rigorous measure. The varying methods formerly used by states to report graduation rates made comparisons between states unreliable, while the new, common metric can be used by states, districts and schools to promote greater accountability and to develop strategies that will reduce dropout rates and increase graduation rates in schools nationwide.
The new, uniform rate calculation is not comparable in absolute terms to previously reported rates. Therefore, while 26 states reported lower graduation rates and 24 states reported unchanged or increased rates under the new metric, these changes should not be viewed as measures of progress but rather as a more accurate snapshot.
“By using this new measure, states will be more honest in holding schools accountable and ensuring that students succeed,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “Ultimately, these data will help states target support to ensure more students graduate on time, college and career ready.”
The transition to a common, adjusted four-year cohort graduation rate reflects states’ efforts to create greater uniformity and transparency in reporting high school graduation data, and it meets the requirements of October 2008 federal regulations. A key goal of these regulations was to develop a graduation rate that provides parents, educators and community members with better information on their school’s progress while allowing for meaningful comparisons of graduation rates across states and school districts. The new graduation rate measurement also accurately accounts for students who drop out or who do not earn a regular high school diploma.
In 2011, states began individually reporting 2010-11 high school graduation rates, but this is the first time the Department has compiled these rates in one public document. These 2010-11 graduation rates are preliminary, state-reported data, and the Department plans to release final rates in the coming months. Beginning with data for the 2011-12 school year, graduation rates calculated using this new method will become a key element of state accountability systems, including for states that have been approved for ESEA flexibility.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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380 comments Add your comment
Dixie Rules
November 27th, 2012
8:00 am
Three major problems in Georgia, and I should know I have taught for 25 years!
1. Bad Demograghics.
2. .42 cents on every dollar goes to administrators.
3. To many administrators, the average metro school has at least 10 to 13.
Pride and Joy
November 27th, 2012
8:03 am
For someone who has taught for 25 year and wants to claim that it is always someone else’ fault for poor education:
“To (sic) many administrators…”
It is “too” many, not “to” many…
So sad.
Pride and Joy
November 27th, 2012
8:04 am
else’s fault….sticky keyboard
EChild
November 27th, 2012
8:05 am
Dixie, I teach in the state, and your .42 cents, blame the administrators drivel is crap. I have never seen a school with 10 to 13 administrators! At least you got #1 correct. The problem with GA’s schools: demographics, culture, and politics. It’s really that simple . . . . . . . . . cuz.
Logical Dad
November 27th, 2012
8:13 am
wow. I rest my case. (Thanks EChild.)
EChild
November 27th, 2012
8:17 am
Irrational dad. Go ahead, bury your head in the sand and ignore the numbers presented in this article. Moron.
Ray
November 27th, 2012
8:19 am
@ EChild
Stats are a funny subject sometimes they can be useful, but other times it’s like their manipulated to someone’s liking.
For instance when you look at say 20% of African Americans dropped out of school vs. 15% of whites that looks awesome right? Or should I say it looks good for someone like you, but when looking at how that really breaks down.
Let’s say in GA for example there are 5,000,000 white teens and then 2,000,000 black teens.
only 15% of white teens dropout vs. 20% for black teens.
That means 750,000 white teens dropped out vs. 400,000 black teens that’s why I said stats is a very funny subject.
That’s why you can’t always look at a percentage every time they have a funny way of backfiring.
Basically long story short THAT ARGUMENT DOESN’T WORK!
EChild
November 27th, 2012
8:20 am
The numbers a incredibly lopsided, but as a “logical dad”, I’ll simply ignore them and pretend demographics, culture, ethnicity, and race have no part to play in this. Pathetic.
Chris Sanchez
November 27th, 2012
8:20 am
First, Georgia can and should do a better job with education. With data like this it is difficult to understand why some fought against the charter school amendment. We know how education has been done historically in Georgia and we know what the results have been. Trying something different is obviously necessary.
Second, these metrics are flawed as others have previously stated. We should be able to determine if a child has moved out of the state and not count them as a drop out. Also, students that take an additional year to complete high school should not be counted as a drop out though the metric should be tracked to determine the significance.
A deeredawg
November 27th, 2012
8:42 am
Well here’s a thought, take out the cities of Atlanta, Columbus & Savanah and see what the rate would be ???
Kelly
November 27th, 2012
8:43 am
While the calculation method for graduation is the same for all states, states set their own rules regarding graduation requirements. Georgia has a very tough graduation standard, requiring students to pass five graduation tests: math, science, social studies/econ, english, and writing. Georgia also requires special education students to pass the same graduation exams that regular students pass. I work in a system on the Georgia/Florida line, and we routinely have students transfer to Florida schools across the state line because they cannot pass our graduation tests but can pass Florida’s FCAT exam with flying colors. Until all states have the same curriculum and graduation requirements, these comparisons do nothing but reward low standards.
Kelly
November 27th, 2012
8:54 am
Only 14 states require a graduation exam. Georgia, Nevada, and New Mexico are among those 13 (they also, according to this article, are doing the worst job). Tennessee, with its great graduation rate, does not require students to take a graduation exam. How about doing a little research, AJC? I bet if we started handing out diplomas like candy bars our grad rate would be 86%, too!
Pride and Joy
November 27th, 2012
8:55 am
Kelly, what about the other 25 states that have graduation tests?
26 states in the US have graduation tests as do Florida and Georgia. Your argument is that Georgia’s graduation tests are more rigorous than Florida’s test and you offer your own experience as proof.
OK, so what about the other 25 states? You are implying that ALL OTHER 25 states have better graduation rates because their graduation tests are easier to pass than Georgia’s.
Where is the proof?
And how about the other 24 states who don’t have graduation tests? Georgia is 47th out of 50.
Let that sink it for a moment. 47 out of 50 — even when other states have more poverty, Georgia still underperforms them.
There is logical thinking and facts and then there are lame, unfounded excuses.
Stay on the logical thinking and factual side.
Maureen Downey
November 27th, 2012
8:57 am
@Kelly, Speaking of research: Not sure of your source but 26 states have some sort of exit exam according to the Center on Education Policy. And 24 states use their exit exams as part of their No Child accountability requirement, according to US DOE.
Pennsylvania introduced exams two years ago. Here is a NYT story on the trend:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/education/12exit.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Maureen
Ray
November 27th, 2012
9:01 am
How about we just do away with standardized testing in general because like me and most of my friends always said. “We’re studying for a test that as soon as it’s done we’ll forget it.” Every time we were correct.
Even friends I’ve known that have gone on to places like UGA and some other big time schools were saying the same thing.
We hated standardized tests
Ray
November 27th, 2012
9:05 am
If they could do away with standardized testing and actually teach us for the future at least that’s how it felt in elementary school. I think we’d be getting somewhere at least.
EChild
November 27th, 2012
9:09 am
Yes, lets get rid of standardized testing. Let’s also get rid of certification tests for teachers, the bar fro lawyers, and the mcat for doctors. Please think folks.
bootney farnsworth
November 27th, 2012
9:11 am
@ EChild
I’m really curious what district you teach in. let people know so they can try their luck in applying there. your experience flies in the face of nearly every other educator in Georgia.
unless you are either a-an admin yourself b-teach at a private school or c-perhaps are not what you claim
no matter, if you provide the district you teach in, we can research it and verify your claim
bootney farnsworth
November 27th, 2012
9:12 am
oh and E…
if you teach in Georgia, shouldn’t you be in class at 9:09 in the morning?
bootney farnsworth
November 27th, 2012
9:14 am
comforting to know we have teachers out there who resort so quickly to name calling and insults.
Ray
November 27th, 2012
9:16 am
@ EChild
I’ve already said why I’d be for getting rid of standardized testing because you only learned the test even our teachers hated the EOCT and other tests.
EChild
November 27th, 2012
9:24 am
bootney farnsworth, read the thread carefully. You should be thrilled to have an honest teacher posting on here. Ray, I teach an EOCT course, and that test motivates both the students and myself. It also provides real data as to whether or not I’m doing my job. Please speak before you say things like, “they could do away with standardized testing”. That is moronic at best. Please provide a better method of gauging effectiveness of schools, teachers, and students?
bootney farnsworth
November 27th, 2012
9:33 am
@ Echild
to be blunt, until you state what district you teach in, I’m highly disinclined to accept your claim to be an “honest teacher”
if like many here you have just concern to protect your identity, send your info to Maureen who (I think) will be willing to acknowledge your bona fides
and why are you free to be posting so much between 9-9:30 if you are teaching?
I am very thrilled to have honest teachers posting here. for example, I rarely agree with Catlady but appreciate her POV since it is based on her real life classroom experiences.
you seem awfully quick to label things you disagree with as moron, or moronic.
Ray
November 27th, 2012
9:34 am
Better and effective way is to figure out if the teacher can teach for one thing not by taking standardized tests, but monitoring them.
Doctors have it right go to school 4 years of medical education, but afterwards they go into intense internships for sometimes at least 3 years or more.
bootney farnsworth
November 27th, 2012
9:35 am
a famous man once said
there are lies, damn lies, and statistics
Kim
November 27th, 2012
9:35 am
Lousy Teachers+Bad Parents=Failing Kids
Great Teachers+Concern Parents=Kids that Graduate
YOU DO THE MATH!
bootney farnsworth
November 27th, 2012
9:36 am
@ Ray, a cavet
with competent people monitoring them.
Ray
November 27th, 2012
9:36 am
Simply put you can read all the books in the world about driving a car does it mean you can drive NOPE!
EChild
November 27th, 2012
9:36 am
bootney farnsworth, gonna ask for my address and phone number next? Guess you’ll just have to take my word for it . . . . . . . . . . cuz. I’ve been a public school teacher for 12 years, teach in a public school in the metro area, teach an EOCT course and AP. As for my time, yeah, that’s none of your business.
bootney farnsworth
November 27th, 2012
9:37 am
sorry, caveat
don’t want to get some people’s undies in a bunch
Mountain Man
November 27th, 2012
9:37 am
“Only 14 states require a graduation exam. Georgia, Nevada, and New Mexico are among those 13 (they also, according to this article, are doing the worst job). Tennessee, with its great graduation rate, does not require students to take a graduation exam. How about doing a little research, AJC? I bet if we started handing out diplomas like candy bars our grad rate would be 86%, too”
From Ga. Dept. of Education:
Students who enter grade nine in 2011 – 2012 and beyond will not take, and are not required to pass, the GHSGT. They are required to take and pass the Georgia High School Writing Test.
EChild
November 27th, 2012
9:39 am
Yeah, then I guess you need the 13 administrators to other moronic post claimed. Or, you could just test the kids to see how they and their teacher are doing.
Ray
November 27th, 2012
9:40 am
@ bootney farnsworth
I agree I’m just giving out ways to help that’s all.
At least at that point I’d feel better about most teachers cause right now in this state there are way more bad teachers than good teachers.
Like right now I’m in college dealing with a bad teacher lol. She reads straight from the book and expected us to be able to make an App knowing we’ve never done that once our entire lives.
It was the same way back in K-12 get to a point a teacher basically thinks you know how to do this stuff, but we don’t, and they expect you to just be able to pull this stuff out your backside(you know what I mean).
EChild
November 27th, 2012
9:41 am
Our school has a 97% pass rate on the GHSGT writing test; it’s a joke. The EOCT’s on the other hand are becoming more relevant and accurate in their gauging. I guess we can just cut out the SAT too while we’re at it.
bootney farnsworth
November 27th, 2012
9:41 am
@ Echild
think of me as from Missouri.
and for the record, until proven otherwise, I see you as either troll or fraud, perhaps both.
frankly I hope to heaven you’re not a in front of a classroom, as you show little evidence of being
a “teacher”
feel free to prove me wrong. I’ll apologise
Kim
November 27th, 2012
9:42 am
The BIG problem is that GA schools don’t prepare the kids in Middle School for High School. Every Middle School should at least expect 8th graders to perform on a 9th-10th grade level! Why are we so scared to challenge our kids?
Ray
November 27th, 2012
9:47 am
@ EChild
well congratufreakinglations to your school, and I doubt the EOCT is as accurate as you think.
Most of the time when kids take the darn test their just glad that it’s over with because that’s all most teachers teach them about. For a majority of the semester that one test.
Foxhunter
November 27th, 2012
9:49 am
I’m still waiting for commenter Rod Johnson to come back and tell us where the union ‘boss’ is hiding so I can find out what my ‘union dues’ are funding.
/facepalm/
How on our evolved Earth have folks (ie – Republicans) like Chip Rogers (newly minted leader of the Obama conspiracy theorists club) managed to convince so many folks that Georgia has a teacher’s union? And I find it ironic that all this pearl clutching about our education system being hampered by liberal ideologies…is in a state that has Republican leadership from top to bottom.
Mountain Man
November 27th, 2012
9:49 am
“Every Middle School should at least expect 8th graders to perform on a 9th-10th grade level! Why are we so scared to challenge our kids?”
H-E- double toothpicks! I would be glad if our 8th graders were ALL required to perform on a 6th grade level! That would be a HUGE improvement at some schools!
bootney farnsworth
November 27th, 2012
9:50 am
@ Ray
understand. there people in front of classrooms, but few who are actually teachers. there is potential ample evidence in this thread.
anyone who has been in education any real length of time knows the problem with standardized tests are they make assumptions which may or may not bear out in real life.
what kind of students do you have? what are the issues in their lives? did they have decent teachers before you got them? at the end of the day, we are dealing with young people, not bricks.
even then, it makes a workable if inaccurate comparison. no matter how good a bricklayer you are, if the bricks you have been given are flawed, you can only do so much with them. and if you blindly
attempt to build regardless, the structure will eventually collapse.
just ask the White Star line about what happens when you ignore warnings from your workers about inferior materials, pay them poorly, and insist on forging ahead with the two.
EChild
November 27th, 2012
9:51 am
Yawn Ray, I’ve been doing this too long. The EOCT is researched and means testes beyond your wildest imagination, so spare us with your assumptions. To be frank, you have no idea what you are talking about. And I’m still waiting for a viable alternative to standardized testing from you. bootney farnsworth, rather than worrying about me, try refuting my points. Read the thread.
bootney farnsworth
November 27th, 2012
9:53 am
part of the problem is the whole middle school concept. while it wasn’t as sexy as “middle school”, the junior high concept worked much better.
problem is, educating kids in not the priority in education anymore. hasn’t been for some time
bootney farnsworth
November 27th, 2012
9:54 am
seems some missed their nap time and is cranky
EChild
November 27th, 2012
9:54 am
I’m waiting for any of you to logically refute my points regarding the real problems with GA’s schools (read the thread), and provide a real alternative to standardized testing.
bootney farnsworth
November 27th, 2012
9:57 am
@ fox
funny thing. I’ve been in higher ed in Georgia for a very long time.
never once met my shop steward. reason why….
didn’t have one. have to have a union to have a shop steward
bootney farnsworth
November 27th, 2012
9:59 am
@ Echild
LOL or ROTFLMAO. your choice.
I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.
Lady COO
November 27th, 2012
10:01 am
We have pointed fingers, cut funding for instruction, increased class sizes, shorten the school year, demonized our educators and laid blame at everyone’s feet…so now that we have gotten it out of our systems…. what do we do about the problem! Our children futures, our state’s economic viability and a good quality of life in this state depends education system that can truly provide a high quality education the majority of it’s students!
EChild
November 27th, 2012
10:02 am
You can’t come up with a better way to gauge the effectiveness of schools than standardized testing. There is no better, more efficient way. Sometimes little facts are very inconvenient for the idealist loons.
bootney farnsworth
November 27th, 2012
10:03 am
a long time ago, I studied the methodology of collecting statistics in college.
one of the primary things stressed to us in the early lectures was the importance of objectivity in formulating and evaluating the data.
because……
you can make statistics show any result you wish, depending on your approach, methodology, and politics. and that all statistics should be taken with a grain of salt
Susan
November 27th, 2012
10:03 am
I disagree that Georgia’s low graduation rate is due to our special needs or ESOL population. Other states have special education as well and seem to be able to educate their students to graduation.
Using the Fordham report you cited Maureen, Indiana has 172,095 students with disabilities (total state population of 6.5 million), comparable to Georgia’s 177,070 (total state population of 9.8 million). However, Indiana is in the top 5 states in the new national graduation report and Georgia is in the bottom 5.
Let’s go shopping for a real reason for Georgia’s poor performance. I would wage a bet that it has more to do with long history of class and racial discrimination than special education. Georgia has a long way to go to take off their rose-colored glasses and admit that they still host an antebellum-style social set up. Ask anybody who is a member at one of the top country clubs if they even know the name of their local public school. The upper crust are not participating in the general level society here. It’s an antiquated social system that serves many quite well, and others, not so well.
There’s so much more to fix here than simply laying the blame on special ed and ESOL students and then turning a blind eye to the reality that is Georgia.