Alarming Insight on High School Graduation Statistics

While doing some research on the public school system, I ran across some statistics on high school graduation rates (overall and by race). Now, I've run into some pretty wild discrepancies in the graduation rates - from the oft-cited 66% overall graduation rate (50% for some minorities), up to 88-90% overall (cited by the Dept. of Education). This is a serious problem - public education is a VERY serious concern for everyone, affecting the job market, crime rates, and extending into prices on real estate (a book I recently finished, The Trap, has details on a lot of this).

So much in American life hinges on the true success rate of public schooling - the American Dream itself is at stake. One of the most valuable tools I picked up from my Economics degree was the ability to discern what is really being told by the statistics people are citing, and I had a hard time knowing who/what to believe...

...until I bumped into this study explaining those numbers. After this study commented that the 88-90% grad rate quote was more accurate - I looked more carefully as to why, and who they were including:

It turns out that this 90% grad rate includes people with any form of GED.

In my opinion, a person with a GED does NOT constitute a success of the public school system - only people with true high school diplomas should be considered successes. Luckily, this study had that information as well. Quoting directly from the research:

The overall high school graduation rate with a regular diploma is between 80% and 83%, with the best data (NELS) showing an 82% rate.

Estimates of the black rate of graduation from high school with a regular diploma range between 69% and 75%, with the NELS showing a 74% graduation rate.

Estimates of Hispanic high school graduation rates with a regular diploma range between 61% and 74%, with the NELS showing a 74% rate.

For both the black and Hispanic grad rate quotes, the paper had this to add, almost as an afterthought: "This is substantially higher than the frequently alleged 50% rate..."

I don't consider an 82% completion rate of regular high school overall, with a 74% high school diploma rate (at most) for minorities success. Personally, in light of the flaws in the 66%/50% rates often quoted, I find this even more alarming - partially because the people so passionate about fixing the education system are using flawed numbers and NOT these...more respected numbers. Through discounting their statistics, people seeking change are losing their credibility (and voice) to change the system. These statistics, on the other hand, are the ones that need to be shouted around the country.

The school system is failing/failing to serve 1 in every 5 children overall, and 1 in 4 blacks or Hispanics - forcing them to seek a G.E.D on their own time. This should just NOT be happening. On a website quoting the 66%/50% statistics, dropouts were asked why they dropped out; among those who answered, the top two responses (almost evenly split) were that either the students were bored, or overwhelmed.

The worst part about all of this is that it can be corrected - and I am getting to the bottom of this. It makes me furious, and I am working on a book to offer some insight/suggestions for the school system. For those of you who have been reading my blog (and I thank you!)- this is one of the main reasons I haven't been updating (and I apologize).

If you have any useful information/statistics, or know of any super-successful systems I should take a look at, leave a comment about it or send me an e-mail. This cannot be allowed to go on - and parents and teachers have little control over the antiquated teaching methods used and taught.

If you have concerns or ideas you want to take to your State Ed department, do so here:
http://www.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html?src=ln

To contact the national office, information is available here:
http://www.ed.gov/about/contacts/gen/index.html?src=ln

Good luck, and may you all (parents, teachers, administrators, and especially students) have a fulfilling school year.