Federal reporting of high-school graduation rates hide an embarrassing and depressing reality of the American education system. Only 70 percent of those who start ninth grade finish four years later.
Many states keep two statistics on hand. Mississippi for example, reports an 83 percent graduation rate to the federal government. The statistic used in the state, however, is 63 percent. California is another example. It reports 83 percent, but operates at home with a rate of 67 percent.
The New York Times explains that the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) policy has something to do with the high reporting and low completion rate. NCLB requires students to meet high standards on proficiency tests, but sets no national requirement for graduation rates. Schools actually have an incentive to persuade failing students to drop out, as the schools' averages on tests will then increase.
Are you surprised that the national graduation rate is only 70 percent? Should US states be focusing on making sure more students graduate, or rather concentrate on helping the proficient students make greater strides?
The Body Shop
Lila
Lancaster
This does not surprise me at all. For example, Mississippi, very far behind in regards to the national average of education. How can one compete in colleges as their peers if there education is sub par. Most places only have one school for the town and all the kids are bus to this location. It's very sad.
1It can't help the U.S. in the long run to encourage an education system that accepts a 30% drop-out rate. I think we're trying to create something like a one-size-fits all education system and we're going to end up seeing a great many bright but bored children left behind.
2This surprises me! I'm interested to see the state-by-state statistics. If a state can report to the federal government that it has 80% of students graduating, why don't they enforce those numbers in their own schools? I don't understand why there is this gap.
3I completely agree w/ stephly! I see so many bright students who are bored and just not challenged enough
4Something I'd be curious to know is if these statistics count students who obtain their GED instead of going through the typical graduation process. Because if they do, then yes, I agree, these numbers are absolutely abhorring.
However, if they DON'T count these students, then they are ruling out a huge percentage of students who actually DO have a High School Diploma, but simply chose not to go through the tedious, and often times useless, High School system.
5Hey. It aint easy.
Not everyone comes from a supportive, encouraging, stable family.
Some people have problems, bigger problems than graduating high school in four years.
Stop blaming everything on NCLB.
6Problematic families have been around as long as there have been kids and schools; NCLB is a more likely factor in current graduation numbers.
7Oh, and I'm no proponent of NCLB, but I'm sick of everyone blaming everything on the education system when a lot of these kids' problems start at home.
8I dont really know how to respond to that other than to say that its hard to get students to care about their education or their future when they're not given that example set by their parent(s) at home.
When you cant even get parents to make sure they do their homework, let alone check and go over their homework with them, or get them to come to class regularly, you're pretty much hitting a brick wall from the start.
9Um let's get the literacy rate to 100% then we can start bashing the NCLB, it's absolutely SHAMEFUL that there are people in this country who CANNOT READ! Believe me, they do exist, my husband works for a company in the construction industry, and his entire job is based on creating development programs for workers who cannot read or write. DESPICABLE!
10Syako, you are so right. And when these people have kids, they can't help there kids. I see it everyday. If you can't read it's hard to continue going in school because it gets challenging and what do you do.
11Dang 70% I can see America's future right now...
12I agree with you j2e1!
13I'm with Matredalia...does anyone know if this includes GEDs? I skipped my senior year and went straight to college. I didn't get my GED until after attending three years of college. What about people in early admittance programs at college? They don't have a high school diploma per se but they are already working at college level. Those need to be factored in also.
14j2e1n9 - Coming from one of those "problematic" families you mentioned, I both agree and disagree. My problems at home turned me form a straight A student who wanted to be valedictorian into a slacker who didn't give a damn if she ever made it to graduation 'cause I figured I'd have committed suicide before I reached 16, let alone graduation (NOT looking for pity, just being VERY honest). HOWEVER, my problems at home had nothing to do with my dropping out. I also had a few friends who dropped out as well, and while most of us did have problems at home, our decisions were usually based more around the fact that the schools weren't teaching us anything new, we had bigger things to worry about, and in our minds, we already knew enough about the world to know that high school was not the answer to our problems. I didn't leave because of the problems at home, but they were a contribution. However, NCLB was a MUCH bigger contribution to that fact than what I dealt with at home because ultimately, one of the biggest reasons I left is because I really felt I wasn't learning anything (There were A LOT of other reasons, that's just one of the big ones).
NCLB is a HUGE problem. "Teaching to the test" is a drastic problem in our schools and it is doing much more harm than good. My high school Algebra & Geometry teacher had to teach to the test, but continually tried to add in information to benefit us and challenge us. She ranted VERY hard against NCLB, because "in her day" they "actually educated our children properly". This is a woman who has been teaching at the same high school since the year my MOTHER was BORN. She was, ultimately, my all time favorite teacher.
15I still don't get why there's a discrepancy in the numbers...are states just fudging the numbers they report to the federal government?
And schools encouraging struggling students to drop out so they can comply with NCLB? Wow, that policy really has done its job well.
16harmonyfrance - I'm a bit different than you, but very similar. I left high school at the beginning of my Junior year, had my GED within 2 weeks of leaving, and then got a nice, two year break to sort out my mental and medical problems before starting college in 2005. The funny thing is, most of my fellow classmates who DID graduate, decided to take a one year break after graduation and never actually bothered to go to college because they got stuck in a rutt, whereas I got a two year break to get my #*$@ together and still went.
IMO, the GED factor is a big one and if it's not being counted, then we're not in nearly as bad of shape as this indicates.
However, what I have a problem with is that while 70% graduation is kind of disheartening, what is MORE disheartening is how many of that 70% probably can't even read above a fifth grade level. I know for a fact that at least 25% of what would have been my graduating class were either completely illiterate or could barely read at an elementary school level.
If you ask me, a 70% graduation rate isn't bad, especially if you add in the GED factor (if it's not already there).
From a sociological point of view, we, unfortunately, rely upon people with lesser education to fulfill the lesser paying, simplistic jobs that our country is basically built on. Thus, they are still fulfilling their role in society.
HOWEVER, when these people don't even have the basic reading skills to survive, THAT is what I worry about.
17They have two different statistic agencies that compute the numbers. I guess it just reinforces that you always have to be weary of stats.
18ladypenguin - I've never heard of schools encouraging students to drop out so they could comply with NCLB, but it wouldn't surprise me. However, I have seen firsthand and heard from friends about school administrators who did not want to deal with other problems concerning health violations and actually taking responsibility for protecting children from discrimination encouraging students to drop out or change school districts. It's actually semi-common phenomena here in Arkansas.
19
shop!
20There needs to be some bar at which we can judge the performance of our students and teachers. Maybe NCLB isn't it, but it certainly isn't the cause of the problems (no one thing usually ever is). If it weren't these tests and it was the graduation rate instead, then there would be school who would push subpar students through graduation to get numbers up...
So until there's a better idea (and I don't have one either) we need something in place as a benchmark...
21I meant, "cause of all the problems"
22
j2e1n9! 
23Well I vote that the federal government gets the hell out of public school. But I might be alone on this one.
24How would that go down Cine? Who would be in charge? You???
yessss!
25she will be the federal government in four years, mind you.
26Does this statistic include getting your GED? Like harmonyfrance, I skipped my senior year and went to college instead. I got my GED and I'm going to graduate college next semester.
27I HATED high school. I was bored. I hated the drama. Ugh. Hated it. haha. So, I'm sure that a lot of people are like me in that respect.
cabaker - I agree there do need to be certain standards. Personally, I think NCLB is a big problem, but I don't think it is the only problem. As j2 mentioned earlier, problematic homes are a problem, and in my opinion, slacking administrators are another. Also, I think another huge problem is that our teachers are overwhelmed by the number of students they are teaching and can not provide the 1 on 1 necessary to these kids, and so their educations are neglected for the greater good.
Personally, I think that setting certain standards not on test scores, but on individual life skills that are essential to being a productive member of society should be the standard. For example, mandate that each child has to be able to read at a certain level and that there is a special program set up in each school for children who fall below that standard so that they can get the extra help they need.
My Elementary school in Ohio had a program like this clear back in the early 1990's and it worked beautifully, and it was in one of the most run down, poor, dead end schools in town. The school was torn down several years after I was there, but by god, they did what they could with the budget and did it well! And they also dealt with the fact that even amongst the elementary school children there was gang related activity and a lot of violence.
Another problem we face is that extracurriculars tend to dominate over education.
A perfect example of what is wrong with our school system comes in the form of my High School in Arkansas:
Our 10th grade English/Literature books were literally falling apart. At the beginning of the year, the teacher took them out and would write in the cover of the book exactly what was wrong with the book (this page missing, cover missing, etc.) so that the student wouldn't be blamed for any damage that was already done. The reason she had to do this is because were using the same batch of books that MANY of my classmates PARENTS had used when they attended that school. I kid you not, one of my classmates had her MOTHERS TEXTBOOK from 1983!
HOWEVER.....even though our school couldn't afford new textbooks....they had just recently built a BRAND NEW field house for the football players, even though the old one was in full working condition and had no serious problems.
I've had friends from around the country mention similar problems, especially in smaller towns where sports tend to dominate over academics and school sports tend to be a community focus. My paternal grandmother (and most of my dad's side of the family for that matter) is from rural Idaho and she is constantly ranting about how her great nieces and nephews are receiving a subpar education and yet "the basketball team have brand new uniforms" or "the band has a new bus", so on and so forth.
I think one of the largest problems in our country is that we put too much focus on extracurricular and not enough on academic, and unfortunately schools are not being held accountable for this because not only are sports a gateway for many students to get scholarships to college, but also because the state government does not want to take responsibility for it and the federal government is too far removed.
P.S. sorry this is so long, I'm kind of out of it and am having trouble condensing my thoughts.
28We should just study the Asian way of schooling, implement it, and tweak it. Cuz obv. they are doing something right!
29Cabaker, the states would run the public schools, as intended in the constitution. If we want the federal government involved in public schools then we should go through the legal process to amend the constitution.
Cabaker I can't be in charge. I will be in the federal level in 4 years. 4 years!!!!
p.s. Sorry for my brief answers today. Super busy at work!
30But if it was at a state level wouldn't that provide different quality of students state to state?
31And what to do about the poorer states?
32"We should just study the Asian way of schooling, implement it, and tweak it"
Um cabaker... That would require our youth to have discipline, and their parents being involved. What were you thinking?
33I know, silly me!
34
35cab - that would be a dream come true. Sigh.
36Cabaker, I think it comes down to if we actually went back to the Constitution and federalism. If the states were required to maintain themselves instead of the federal government taxing the hell out of people, and sticking their noses where they don't belong, then the state could tax more efficiently. The taxes could go towards the needs of the schools. States know better what their people need then the federal government. If we cut needless, useless federal programs then people will have more money to put towards their community.
Ahhhh!!!! I love this topic, but my office is going crazy so I can only write short answers!
37Hmm interesting Cine... I never thought of it like that...
38I love federalism. Imagine the power we as a people would have if we actually observed the Constitution!
39Oh, and like I said, if people want federal involvement in public schools, then it should be done legally, and amend the constitution.
40cine_lover - The only problem with that is that states tend to be made up of people of a like mind, and unfortunately there are states where the group mind does not always have the best interests of the people, or the children at heart. Arkansas is one of them, and I can say that without any hesitation at all, as I have lived here almost all of my life.
The state government here is VERY far removed from their people and they have a tendency not to listen at ALL to their constituents. They have turned a blind eye to the police corruption in my town and county for as long as my family has been here (going on 20 years), as well as the repeated complaints concerning the local school district's administration policies concerning student discrimination as well as the administrations reaction to parental complaints and action.
And when I was in 10th grade, there were reports from all over the state concerning school districts discriminating against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans gender students, and even going so far as to tell parents to send those children to other schools, encouraging them to drop out of their schools, or in one case, even urging the parents to put their son in a school for juvenile delinquents and mentally disturbed children.
When the paper went to the state for answers as to why they did nothing when these students and parents went to them for help, the state just said "no comment" basically.
I honestly believe if left to their own devices, this state would be even worse.
As is, I didn't even give the really gnarley examples.
41And, again, NCLB fails exactly those children it's supposed to not leave behind.
But the problems go deeper than a few terrible government programs. As many people have already said, our country's educational problems stem as much from the home and the culture as they do from the schools themselves. Sad to say that that means that fixing our literacy and dropout rates will take more than just government intervention.
42It's not cool to learn, it's not cool to get a job and work. However it's totally righteous to have a sextape, put up obscene songs on myspace, hop from club to club looking for the TMZ cameras and pulling up your shirts in the hopes that joe Francis will see and give you a nano second of fame and be uneducated and ignorant. I don't blame the NCLB policy, I blame Paris Hilton who started that trend.
43Mat, Although those examples are horrible, I believe fixing a small government that is corrupt is much easier then fixing an out of control federal government. People need to get out and vote if they are tired of the corruption, and as you can see, having federal government involvement has not solved the problem.
Additionally, the discrimination that you mention, according to the constitution, is still suppose to be dealt with at state level. Brown vs. Board of ed is an example of a situation that was morally wrong, but still the federal government over stepped it bounds. It was a state decision. By allowing the federal government to disregard the constitution in Brown Vs.Board of Ed, then you are setting precedence to allow the federal government to disregard the Constitution on other situations.
Our Constitution was written to protect us Absolute power, and we are headed down that road, quickly.
44If I ruled the world kids would wear uniforms to school, they would say the pledge of allegiance at the start of the school day, if you did something that you weren't suppose to you would actually be punished for it and parents would be required to stay in touch with teachers to monitor their kid's progress.
45I agree dont blame NCLB. I know of 4 students this year who dropped out in thier senior year because they "felt like it" not because of any policy, in fact nobody tried to stop them, not counselors (who are underpaid and overworked) and not thier parents, who, lets be honest, if they cared about thier kids they wouldnt be of the mindset to let it all go would they?
Kids have been dropping out forever, long before NCLB....long long before....
46oh and I did not mean that you gave horrible examples, I meant that the actions are horrible
47Piper, you are hired!
48piper = secretary of education (even though that post will quickly be eliminated by cine)
49Can't wait to start, Cine!
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