On-time graduation rates drop in Durham

Rates increase slightly in the state as Durham sees declines among whites, blacks, Asians, economically disadvantaged

Despite continuing and new efforts by Durham's educators to increase graduation rates, the number of high schoolers who graduated on time last year was about 63 percent, down from 66 percent in the previous year, according to a report released Thursday by the state.

Statewide, the on-time graduation rate -- meaning that students finished high school in four years or less -- inched up to 69.9 percent from 69.5 percent. The report, called the cohort graduation rate, tracks individual students as they progress through high school, as well as rates by gender, ethnicity and other characteristics.

In Durham, the percentages of Asian, black, and white students graduating on time fell, as did the rates of students who are economically disadvantaged and those with limited English ability.

Only 37 percent of the district's 222 Hispanic seniors graduated on time last year, but the figure was an improvement over the previous year's 35 percent mark.

Multi-racial students also saw improvement in their graduation rates, along with students with disabilities, whose graduation rate improved to 56 percent, up nearly 14 percentage points.

The district has created several new programs over the past two years to help get students who are behind back on track, including opening a night school at Southern High, which had the district's lowest graduation rate, 62 percent.

"We want students to stay in school and stay connected to school," said Debbie Pitman, assistant superintendent of student support services. "We want to make sure we're creating programs to allow them to reconnect."

To view the state's cohort graduation rate report, visit http://tinyurl.com/59j8ch