The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
State: 2019 featured best on-time grad rate in decade
High-needs students make marked gains
HARTFORD — On-time graduation rates for high school seniors continued to inch up for the Class of 2019 in Connecticut, state officials announced Wednesday.
The four-year graduation rate last year was 88.5 percent, an increase from 88.3 percent for the Class of 2018.
Within the numbers there is better news, said Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona. Students with high needs — students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, disabilities or English learners — improved drastically from 77.9 percent in 2017-18 to 80.4 percent in 2018-19.
Torrington saw a slight drop in its four-year graduation rate, from 82.8 percent in 2017-18 to 81.5 percent in 2018-19. Torrington had seen a 5-year high in its graduation rate of 83.7 in the 2014-15 school year but had dropped to a 70.4 four-year graduation rate in the 2016-17 school year, the state document shows.
New Haven Interim Superin
tendent of Schools Ilene Tracey said that across the district there was an increase in the four-year graduation rate from 78.9 percent in 2017-18 to 80.9 percent in 201819
Tracey said this represents “Lots of hard work on the part of our staff.”
Tracey also noted that all high schools in the city saw an increase in the four-year graduation rate except Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School. High School in the Community, for example, saw a 13.5 percent increase, from 75 percent to 88.5 percent.
Across the state, on-time graduation rates for most student
groups are the highest they have been since the cohort graduation method was first implemented for federal reporting in 2010-11. The rate measures how many students who enter public high schools as ninth graders graduated four years later.
There were 42,060 members of the Class of 2019 according to the state. Of those, 37,247 students managed to cross the stage at graduation in four years.
“These widespread improvements are an ongoing testament to the collective efforts of all our educators,” said Cardona, in a written statement.
The results also reflect a time when school was still in session. It is unclear how the graduation rate will be measured for the Class of 2020.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has
reaffirmed that a strong PK-12 system is our state’s best economic driver and we will continue to build on our successes to ensure that all students graduate prepared to strengthen our workforce and fill the jobs of the 21st century,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in another written statement.
Lamont added that achieving a record-high graduation rate is a sign that state efforts to make sure every student in Connecticut has equitable access to a quality education and the opportunity to succeed is working.
It is not clear how Connecticut’s graduation rate compares nationally. The federal graduation rate is a year behind with 2017-18 rates just released, officials said.
Graduation rates factor into the overall health of schools and school districts along with test
scores, the number of students headed to college and who take college-ready courses.
The newly released statistics show that graduation rates are improving in many of the state’s 33 Alliance Districts, which have the most needs.
The state Department of Education singled out New Britain, Vernon, Waterbury, and West Haven for their improving graduation rates. West Haven’s graduation rate, for instance, went from 82.2 percent in 2018 to 83.1 in 2019.
Locally, Ansonia, Bridgeport, Monroe, Shelton and Trumbull saw graduation rates rise with the Class of 2019. The Bridgeport rate of 76 percent is the highest in at least five years.
Westport’s graduation rate is 99.2 percent. East Granby had a
100 percent graduation rate.
Acting Schools Superintendent Michael Testani credits efforts to improve the instructional program to better engage all students.
“Bridgeport Public Schools is committed to supporting all our students in their academic and social emotional growth,” Testani said.
State officials say efforts to offer credit recovery programs and provide personalized attention and supports aid in helping students to graduate on time.
Statewide, while the overall graduation rate was 88.5 percent, for students with high needs it was 80.4 — a jump from 77.9 the year before.