Southwest Graduation Rates Significant Increase

I received a telephone call from Dr. Brenda Cassellius, Commissioner of Education State of Minnesota, congratulating the Southwest Students, Families and Staff relating to the increase in percentage of graduates.

 As you know the state is using a new 4-year graduation rate.

Total 423 graduates

2012                       2013

African American            62.27                     77.98

Hispanic                               73.53                     75.68

Asian                                     85.71                     91.67

American Indian               66.                          60.

White                                    87.                          83.

 

Free and Reduced           57.14                     72.6

ELL                                          46.43                     74.47

Special Education             28.89                     45.45**

 

Girls                                       86                           84.4

Boys                                      73                           78.03

 

Total all Students             79.90                     81.09

 

These are unofficial in the sense that I have not seen these in print.  I expect you will see them in the newspaper in the next couple days.

** Remember that students continuing into Transition Plus are computed as drop-outs, thus this number does not reflect real graduates. 

That is a 25% gain in African Americans – and significant gain in almost all the categories.  Congratulations.

 

These would be the 9^th graders entering Southwest in the fall of 2009.  What are you /we doing that has resulted in this significant increase? Are families and parents, what do you think has made a difference?

 

Congratulations to your students, families and YOU!!!