HIGH SCHOOL GRAD NUMBERS STAY STEADY

Gains for English language learners, special ed

New Mexico students graduated from high school at a 71.1 percent rate in 2017, a success in the eyes of state public school leaders who also claim continued progress in rates for Hispanic and developmentally challenged students.

While Albuquerque Public Schools has historically lagged behind the state average graduation rate — and did again in this round with 67.9 percent — the district actually improved more year over year than the state. APS improved 1.2 percentage points to the state’s 0.1 percentage point increase.

Public Education Secretary-designate Christopher Ruszkowski announced the 2016-17 school year graduation data Friday, emphasizing the steady rate comes a year after a record high of 71 percent in 2016 and amid tougher graduation requirements.

“We have maintained (the rate) with a higher bar and higher standards,” Ruszkowski said. “Before (reforms), we were essentially handing out certificates of

completion.”

Those reforms include a requirement that students pass PARCC tests for competency in math and English. Some schools allow alternative proof of competency.

At the end of the last school year, New Mexico high schools graduated 71.1 percent of senior students, a total of 18,903 of 26,587, indicating 7,684 students either dropped out, moved or are taking longer to graduate from school.

In the 2015-16 school year, state schools graduated an even 71 percent, or 18,407 of 25,926 students. At that time, the rate was hailed as an all-time high for the state — while still one of the lowest rates in the nation.

The national average for 2016 was 84 percent, and New Mexico ranked second worst in the nation (above only Washington, D.C.) but had one of the higher rate increases in the country.

While claiming the 71.1 percent graduation rate in 2017 as a success and pointing out that the graduation rate in 2011 was 63 percent, Ruszkowski said several groups of students over the last eight years also have made strides worthy of attention.

Students with disabilities have increased their graduation rate from 47 percent in 2011 to 61.5 percent in 2017, a 14.5 percentage point increase and the group with the largest gains. English language learner students increased their graduation rate from 55.9 percent in 2011 to 68.1 percent in 2017, a gain of 12.2 percentage points.

About 70.5 percent of Hispanic students at schools statewide graduated in 2017, up from 59.3 percent in 2011.

Ruszkowski said that spike is among the best for Hispanic students across the nation.

But that number dipped a tiny bit from 2016, 0.2 percentage points statewide and the same dip at APS, where Hispanic students have increased their graduation rates for the last two years to 65.8 percent.

“I am pleased with the steady progress we are making in Albuquerque Public Schools,” APS Superintendent Raquel Reedy said in her announcement of the district’s rates.

APS’ rate includes district-authorized charter schools, some of which have graduation rates as low as 8.7, for the charter teaching jail inmates, and 7.6, for a charter reaching dropout youth.

And APS improved in some groups that saw an overall drop at the state level.

Native Americans in public schools in Albuquerque increased their graduation rate 7.6 percentage points from 2016 to 54.6 percent. Students at the Native American Community Academy Charter achieved a 72.4 percent graduation rate, making the school one of the better-achieving APS charters.

Statewide, 61 percent of Native American students graduated in 2017, a 2.7 percentage drop from 2016.