Jun 9, 2009 3:55 pm US/Eastern
Fla. Graduation Rate Is Among the Lowest In U.S.
TAMPA, FL (CBS4) ―
Another blow for Florida's embattled education system.
The Sunshine State's high school graduation rate has been ranked fifth lowest in the nation, according to Editorial Projects in Education.
In their 2006 "Diplomas Count" just over 57 percent of students finished high school on time with a regular diploma, compared to 69 percent nationwide. State figures however show the graduation rate at 71 percent. Florida education officials say they use a different method which involves enrollment and diploma recipients.
"Regardless of how the rate is calculated, there is no doubt that improvements are needed," said Florida's Education Commissioner Eric Smith
Smith said his department is making changes to the high school accountability program, which will take graduation rates and advanced coursework offerings into account. The state is also increasing support for struggling schools and using new reading assessments and education standards that will "ensure that students are learning what they need to know so they not only earn a diploma, but leave school fully prepared for college or a career."
According to the 2006 "Diploma Count" teenage girls were found to have outperformed their male counterparts. Asian students had the highest graduation rates across all racial and ethnic groups followed by American Indian, Alaska Native, white, Hispanic, and black students.
Florida's graduation rate since 1996 shows some fluctuation, from a low of just under 50 percent in 2000 to a high of 61 in 2005. The study estimates that about 104,000 Florida students will fail to graduate with a diploma this year, which totals a loss of 578 students each school day.
Fortunately, however, progress is being made in several districts. Thirty-three of the nation's largest urban school districts were found to have surpassed their expected graduation rates by at least 10 percentage points. Among the 33 districts, two were in Florida: Leon and Hillsborough, which include the cities of Tallahassee and Tampa. Additionally, great advances have been made in Leon and St. Lucie counties, improving their graduation rates by 12 points from 1996 to 2006.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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