Wisconsin, Milwaukee graduation rates increase, but disparities remain
Graduation rates in Milwaukee and the state increased with the class of 2019, however, disparities persist, particularly along racial and socioeconomic lines, according to a new round of data released by the Department of Public Instruction.
According to DPI, 90% of students in 2019 completed high school within four years, up slightly from 89.6% in 2017-'18 and 88.4% five years earlier.
Milwaukee Public Schools lagged the state, with 69.1% of students last year graduating in four years. However, that was up from 66.7% a year earlier and more than 10 percentage points, from 58.2%, five years earlier.
MPS and DPI issued statements touting those numbers.
"Milwaukee Public Schools continues to make strides in four-year graduation rates," the district said.
And, while graduation rates increased for several subgroups, including low-income students and students of color, at the state and local level, disparities among students persist.
At the state level, for example, 93.8% of white students and 92% of Asians graduated in four years, compared with 82.8% of Hispanic and 71.3% of black students. Economically disadvantaged students — those eligible for free- and reduced-price lunch — saw gains over the five-year period. But they still lagged with 80.5% finishing in four years, compared with 95% for their more affluent peers.
In Milwaukee, 78.4% of white students and 81% of Asian students graduated in four years, compared with 66.2% of black students and 70.2% of Hispanic students. Economically disadvantaged students were less likely to graduate in four years, at 66.3% compared with 79.4%. Students with disabilities were even less likely to graduate in four years, at 46.5%.
The graduation results were among a number of data sets updated by DPI on Tuesday. They are available on the state's Wisedash site.
Among other findings:
Enrollment declined statewide over the last five years by more than 12,000 students to 854,959 last year. MPS enrollment dipped almost 1,100 to 74,683. Enrollment is a key piece of the school funding formula, and declining enrollment generally means less money for a district.
The number of students considered homeless — whether unsheltered or doubling up with other families — rose statewide from about 1.4% of students to 2.1% over the last five years. Across the state, 18,349 students were considered homeless, up from 12,919 five years earlier. Just under a quarter of the state's homeless students, 5,040, attended Milwaukee Public Schools.
Contact Annysa Johnson at anjohnson@jrn.com or 414-224-2061. Follow her on Twitter at @JSEdbeat. And join the Journal Sentinel conversation about education issues at www.facebook.com/groups/WisconsinEducation.