Graduation Rates a 'Catastrophe' in Cities

AP Via AOL News ^ | April 1, 2008 | KEN THOMAS,AP

[rightwingintelligentsia]

WASHINGTON (April 1) - Seventeen of the nation's 50 largest cities had high school graduation rates lower than 50 percent, with the lowest graduation rates reported in Detroit, Indianapolis and Cleveland, according to a report released Tuesday.

The report, issued by America's Promise Alliance, found that about half of the students served by public school systems in the nation's largest cities receive diplomas. Students in suburban and rural public high schools were more likely to graduate than their counterparts in urban public high schools, the researchers said.

Nationally, about 70 percent of U.S. students graduate on time with a regular diploma and about 1.2 million students drop out annually.

"When more than 1 million students a year drop out of high school, it's more than a problem, it's a catastrophe," said former Secretary of State Colin Powell, founding chair of the alliance.

His wife, Alma Powell, the chair of the alliance, said students need to graduate with skills that will help them in higher education and beyond. "We must invest in the whole child, and that means finding solutions that involve the family, the school and the community." The Powell's organization was beginning a national campaign to cut high school dropout rates.

[Paradox]

Peer pressure has more of an effect on teenagers than parents and community. The first thing that needs to be addressed is the reality that inner-city school kids are scorned by their peers as acting white if they study and take an interest in school.

Correct, this is largely a cultural problem, first and foremost, of the urban, black community. However this is now extending into non-black communities, like latinos and now white kids. The triumph of YOism..

[Beagle8U]

Detroit has the #1 dropout rate of all the cities, 68%!

The Detroit public schools dropout rate for boys is 75%!

Detroit public schools get the highest state funding of any schools in Michigan and only 32% of the students graduate.

[janeliberty]

It depends on what numbers are being used. Could be only 24.9% graduate out of the total eligible student population in Detroit. If that’s the case, the numbers may be true. Most of the inner-city kids still in school at 16 are there to learn, the others have dropped out.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The junior college in our town offered a college level American Literature and Rhetoric course to high school kids who passed a very easy entry test. These classes all transfered to U of Iowa. I found out later that Iowa used the Rhetoric class to flunk out about 35 percent of the incoming freshmen.

[shorty_harris]

I was at a popular vacation destination in CA last week. While I was standing at the counter of an eating establishment, I noticed a filled-out employment application laying next to the register. The applicant’s highest level of education was grade 6, from a school in Mexico.

[w1andsodidwe]

Stockton California has a graduation rate of about 50%. I find it shocking, but education is just not valued here and grade schoolers a thrown out of school for the craziest reasons. A friend son had a black girl say to him (when he was playing hard outside) that his face looked like a strawberry. He responded that her face looked like a chocolate bar. He was expelled for that. How much better if the teachers had sat the kids down and had a discussion about how feeling might be hurt. In other words, use it as a teachable moment instead of a punishment

This kind of crazy stuff goes on all the time. I hear it from parents and I just shake my head. School is made to be a very difficult experience for children because of the zero tolerance stuff. I am not excusing kids, but when you are thrown out for sharing candy or aspirin, how can it be anything but a hellhole?

[PurpleMan]

- Detroit Mayor - Democrat
- Indianapolis Mayor - Republican (Since 01/08; Dem for 8 years before)
- Cleveland Mayor - Democrat (Dems since ‘90)
- Baltimore Mayor - Democrat (Dems since ‘67)
- Columbus Mayor - Democrat (Dems since ‘00)
- Minneapolis Mayor - Democrat Farm Labor (DFL since ‘78)
- Dallas Mayor - Republican (Since 07/07; Dems from ‘95 till then)
- New York Mayor - Independent (Since ‘01)
- Los Angeles Mayor - Democrat (Since ‘01)
- Oakland Mayor - Democrat (Since ‘77)

[Arthur McGowan]

Abolish government schools, and all these problems are solved.

No indoctrination by government Marxists. Property taxes cut in half. No peers pressuring kids to get into drugs, sex, and violence. No peers beating kids up for studying. No infantilization of parents by government babysitters. No fights about Darwinism, prayer at football games, etc. Fewer kids injured providing cheap government-financed entertainment for adults (high school sports).

With property taxes nationwide cut in half, the public would have more than TWICE the money needed to spend on private school, tutors, and homeschooling for their own children and the children of ALL poor people.

[RightWhale]

1.2 million students drop out annually.

That means in a circular pattern. Like with a fertilizer wagon.

[rogue yam]

Hmm. What do all of these cities have in common?

They are filled with people who's approach to life has been influenced by "leaders" like Jeremiah Wright.

[rogue yam]

whose

[Cyropaedia]

Isn't that a brilliant strategy...?

And the two Juans (McCain & Hernandez) want to bring even more.

[rogue yam]

I blame my racist granny.

[tom h]

Three causes for this problem, Mr. Powell, none of which are new or rocket science.

First, inner city culture does not highly regard education. This has nothing to do with education spending and everything to do with gutter subcultures that afflict black and Hispanic families and teens. Pastors like Jeremiah Wright make these subcultures thrive. Can't fix this with Government spending. It requires change of a heart.

Second, public school districts and teachers unions. It's been proven countless times by now that bloated school bureacracies, along with teachers unions that defend incompetent teachers, result in schools that don't teach.

Third, and this is the least well known -- the ACLU. Schools can't discipline anymore because about twenty years ago the ACLU succeeded through lawsuits in taking away just about all teacher authority to punish. These punks in the inner city districts, when caught, now receive "legal representation" and are assumed "innocent until proven guilty" after a long process involving free lawyers, standard evidence rules, etc.

I defy any adult to parent or discipline a teen that gets the "rights" in item 3.

THAT's why schools are in such trouble, Mr. Powell.

[goodnesswins]

And, next....the schools need MORE MONEY!!!!!!!

[chopperman]

The Ten Worst:

Rank-City-Percent Grad Rate

1 Detroit---------24.9

2 Indianapolis----30.5

3 Cleveland------34.1

4 Baltimore------34.6

5 Columbus-----40.9

6 Minneapolis---43.7

7 Dallas---------44.4

8 New York----45.2

9 Los Angeles---45.3

10 Oakland-----45.6

[stylin19a]

Researchers analyzed school district data from 2003-2004 collected by the U.S. Department of Education.
To calculate graduation rates, the report estimated the likelihood that a 9th grader would complete high school on time with a regular diploma.
Researchers used school enrollment and diploma data, but did not use data on dropouts as part of its calculation.

Blind men describing an elephant...r....

[NativeSon]

two words: Bell Curve

[chopperman]

I went to the site to see where Pittsburgh was ranked. It wasn’t even included because the list is of only the 50 largest cities. That’s a shame. The ‘Burgh’ was once the sixth largest.

[xc1427]

two words: Bell Curve...

Wouldn’t that be four words and a colon?/mammoth sarcasm...

...however, “Bell Curve” is a salient observation. Do you think we might hold a discussion on cranial size v. the three body types? By God, what mental carnage we could create....:)