News

In Montana, better than average isn’t good enough. SUMMARY: Graduating six out of seven from high school is leaving too many children behind.

“State’s dropout rate lower than national average,” was the cheery headline in the Missoulian over a story last week comparing graduation rates in Montana with the nation. The story dutifully reported Montana educators’ confidence in the accuracy of graduation rates they report –

85 percent averaged statewide – even as debate rages nationally over conflicting methods of measuring graduation rates. This coverage came on the heels of a Time magazine cover story suggesting graduation rates nationwide are widely overstated and probably range between 64 percent and 71 percent.

Montanans should find little comfort or satisfaction in graduation rates that exceed the national average. An 85 percent graduation rate means 15 percent or one in every 6.6 students fail to meet the most basic measure of success in our school system. Even if that were the best in the nation – and it’s not – it’s a dismal statistic.

Full Opinion: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006/04/25/opinion/opinion2.txt

***

Gazette Opinion: Make a decision to keep our quality public schools

Billings Public Schools can be proud of a graduation rate that surpasses the state average, which is well above the national average.

One factor in Billings’ graduation success is Crossroads Alternative High School, a School District 2 program that provides a small-school option for students who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out of the three large public high schools. In eight years, Crossroads has graduated 98 students.

Full Opinion: http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/04/23/opinion/gazette/50-gazetteopinion.txt

Posted in:

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.