PPG:State releases school graduation rates

State releases school graduation rates

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

By Eleanor Chute, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

New graduation rates released today by the state show a wide disparity across the state, with some schools graduating as few as 1 in 4 students four years after they enter ninth grade and others graduating all such students.

These rates are preliminary and are based on what is called the four-year cohort graduation rate mandated by the federal government. Now that students in Pennsylvania have a unique student identification number, it is easier to track their academic progress.

In a news release, acting state Education Secretary Ronald Tomalis cautioned against comparing the figures with old dropout rates.

"It's important to understand that while the numbers may look different than in previous years, it is because the improved methodology is giving a more reliable and accurate picture -- not necessarily because of any difference in underlying performance," he said.

The rates for both schools and districts are available at www.education.state.pa.us

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11074/1132158-100.stm#ixzz1GhprmSBT