(Community Matters) Reviewing Cities in Crisis, a report by Dr. Christopher Swanson, Director of the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center. Far fewer students are graduating high school than we’ve realized, especially racial & ethnic minorities and males. The connection between place and performance is real for students, schools and school systems.
Surprised to learn graduation rates are 15% lower in urban than suburban schools. For 2003 – 2004, 70% overall student graduation rate.
- Suburban 75%
- Urban 60%
- Females 74%
- Males 66%
- Asians 80%
- White 76%
- Hispanic 58%
- Black 53%
- Native Am 49%
The report concentrates on the 50 largest cities. Only about half (52%) of the students graduate from the principal school systems in these cities. Only six of 50 principal school districts reach or exceed the 70% average national graduation rate.
Austin the 16th most populous city ranked 21st in high school graduation rates, averaging only 58% in 2003-2004. Our metropolitan area averages 71%, mirroring the national gap between suburban and urban performance.
Report available here.
Pres & CEO, ACF
Community Matters 