Gains Made in Graduation Rates, Report Card Ratings

Great news published from the South Carolina Department of Education today. Graduation rates for South Carolina students increased for all measured categories of the student population while absolute and growth ratings on the annual district report cards improved for many as well. In this article it is noted that there was a small increase in students that graduated in 2011 than 2010. The overall on-time graduation rate in 2011 was 73.6 percent, while in 2010 that number was 72.1 percent. This year’s increase ended two consecutive years of declines.  

The Hispanic graduation rate improved the most, with a 5.9 percent increase from 2010’s 62.6 percent graduation rate to 2011’s 68.5 percent graduate rate. The graduation rate of African Americans moved from 68 percent to 69.7 percent while the graduation rate of white students moved from 75.5 percent to 76.8 percent. The graduation rate of students eligible for subsidized meals increased from 64.9 percent to 67 percent. Some gender statistics are as follows. Females increased their graduation rate by one percent, moving from a 77.5 percent graduation rate in 2010 to a 78.5 percent graduation rate in 2011. The male population doubled that gain, increasing two percent from 2010’s 66.7 percent graduation rate to 2011’s 68.7 percent graduation rate.

Although the ultimate goal is to try and surpass the 78% graduation rate in 2003, it is still great news to furthermore support the thought of South Carolina public education systems are on the right track to achieving state greatness and eliminating/decreasing the corridor of shame.