High School Grad Rates Make Modest Climb in New York

New York State's high school graduation rate increased slightly to 74.9 percent in 2013 from 74 percent the year earlier. The state's education department released the graduation data on Monday along with chastened statements from officials who acknowledged dispiriting trends in the data.

“One in four students still aren’t graduating after four years,” said Education Commissioner John King. “And far too many students, even if they graduate from high school, still haven’t completed the advanced and rigorous course work to be ready for college or the workplace."

You can see how individual New York City high schools fared this year, and over time, in the chart below:

King and Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch noted the persistent achievement gap which was seen most starkly among those who qualified for an Advanced Designation diploma. This higher level diploma requires a student to accrue 22 credits and pass eight Regents exams with a score of 65 or higher.

"There’s clearly a lack of equity in access in the course offerings necessary for the Advanced Designation,” said Tisch in a written statement.

Kim Sweet, executive director of Advocates for Children of New York, criticized the decrease in the percentage of English Language Learners earning diplomas. And she called for alternative ways to help some of the students left behind. 

"The state desperately needs also to develop new pathways to graduation that open doors to post-secondary education and jobs for students who are already in high school and not currently likely to graduate," Sweet said in a statement. "These pathways must be accessible to the wide range of students – including English Language Learners, students with disabilities, and students in traditionally under-served communities."