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High School Graduation Rates Rise Statewide, Differ Across The County

Graduation rates in the state are on the rise, according to 2016 data from the New York State Education Department.

For freshmen entering school in 2012, the overall graduation rate increased to 79.4 percent, which is an increase of 1.3 percent. This is an increase of 12 percent from freshmen entering in 2002.

Locally, Falconer Central School District saw an increase of 4 percent in graduation rate, from 85 percent in 2015 to 89 percent, about 10 percent higher than the state graduation rate. Twenty-nine percent of students graduated with a Regents Diploma with an advanced designation, compared to 32 percent in 2015. However, 48 percent graduated with a Regents Diploma this year, an increase of 2 percent.

The dropout rate at Falconer increased from 4 percent in 2015 to 5 percent in 2016.

Southwestern Central School District also saw a 4 percent increase from 90 to 94 percent from 2015 to 2016. Thirty-seven percent of students graduated with a Regents Diploma with an advanced designation, a decrease of 1 percent from 2015. Data regarding regular Regents Diploma percentages was not available in the state’s figures.

Frewsburg Central School District reported a 7 percent increase from 2015 to 2016, with the rate growing from 84 percent to 91 percent. In 2016, 35 percent graduated with a Regents Diploma with an advanced designation, an increase of 9 percent. The percent of students graduating with a Regents Diploma also increased 2 percent from last year, from 49 percent to 51 percent.

According to data for 2016, Jamestown Public Schools District’s graduation rate for all students dropped 1 percent from 2015 to 2016. In 2015, 75 percent of all students graduated, while this year 74 percent graduated. In 2016, 30 percent graduated with a Regents Diploma with advanced designations, a 3 percent decrease

In Jamestown, the dropout rate increased from 15 percent in 2015 to 16 percent in 2016.

Tim Mains, superintendent, said while those numbers are correct, the district generally uses the Jamestown High School figures for four-year graduation. From 2015 to 2016, the Jamestown High School graduation rate decreased one percent from 77 percent to 76 percent. Mains said these figures are used because there are some students which have to be sent out of the district for specialized education that seldom earn high school diplomas.

These students are included in the district figures, but are not included in the Jamestown High School figures.

“We are discouraged by the slight step backward,” Mains said. “We believe it is a temporary dip in an overall pattern of improvement. We believe we are going to continue to follow the overall path of continued improvement.”

As for the state, State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said the uptick is an improvement, but more can be done.

“While the upward trend in New York State’s graduation rates continues, there is still much work to do,” Elia said. “The Regents and I are committed to providing the resources and support to schools statewide to prepare students for the next phase in their lives. It’s important for schools to offer multiple pathways to earn a high school diploma as well as career and technical programs.

Similarly, we must help enable our struggling schools to improve outcomes for their students.”

Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa echoed Elia’s sentiments.

“While the state’s overall graduation rate went up slightly, we must find more effective ways to address the achievement gaps that continue to impact far too many of our children – particularly those students for whom English is not their first language,” Rosa said. “If enacted, the Regents 2017-18 State Aid proposal will help address these gaps in achievement by significantly increasing Foundation Aid funding, expanding and consolidating the state’s Universal Pre-K programs, better supporting programs for students who are learning English, increasing funding to support College and Career Pathways and building upon existing teacher and principal professional development initiatives.”

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