Wake graduation rate up slightly

RALEIGH -- Wake County schools' graduation rate likely increased by two percent during the school year just concluded, Superintendent Tony Tata said this morning.

The increase was part of a preliminary update by Tata on academic progress during the past year, during which he arrived mid-year to take the job formerly held by ousted superintendent Del Burns.

"I'm proud of our progress and I want to see more growth," Tata said.

The data are still being reviewed by the state education department and small changes may follow.

"In general we are seeing improvement in most student groups," Tata said.

"Our elementary and middle schools showed stronger average progress than last year. That's all relatively good news."

White, Asian, black and Hispanic groups all improved on state proficiency tests, but the black students' rate at 62 percent remained 30 percent behind that of white students. Nonetheless, the black students showed 6 percent growth in the past three years. That trend was mirrored in middle school scores.

High school students showed an overall one percent drop in proficiency, and black students' achievement dropped at the same rate.

"You see African-Americans going up and you see Hispanics going up considerably," Tata said, noting that the overall graduation rate of more than 80 percent represented significant increase after several years of stagnant numbers.

The state will release Average Yearly Progress rates for the past year on July 21, and Tata signaled that Wake may have fewer schools meeting that standard, which periodically gets tougher.

Among other data, Tata said:

++ Students in grades 1-3 increased their levels of proficiency on state tests.

++ The proficiency gap narrowed between low-income students and those in higher-income groups.

++ Students in grade 9-12 showed a "slight average dip" in proficiency, but some subgroups showed improvement.

Tata singled out schools such as Wakelon and Zebulon elementaries for posting 13 percent gains in proficiency, when they had struggled in the past. A "high-expectations, no-excuses" culture was part of the success at these schools and others with significant gains.