Graduation rate reaches above 50 percent

TRENTON>> The capital city is out of the basement.

Since 2011 — when the state switched the graduation formula— Trenton has consistently ranked the lowest in New Jersey for high school graduation rates.

But that changed this year.

Superintendent

Francisco Duran touted at Monday night’s school board meeting that for the first time in four years, Trenton is handing diplomas to more than 50 percent of its students, ultimately ending its stay at the bottom of the pack.

“We have a lot of work to continue to do certainly,” Duran said, noting the districtwide graduation rate for attending high school students is 55.7 percent. “It just doesn’t start in high school that students aren’t successful. It begins in elementary and in middle school.”

The districtwide graduation rate embodies Trenton Central High School Main, Trenton Central High School West and Daylight/ Twilight.

In 2011, Trenton boasted a 41.1 graduation rate, which jumped 14.6 percent with this year’s statistics.

Most notably, TCHS Main saw a four-year change of 25.8 percent, from 50.5 percent in 2011 to a graduation rate of 76.3 percent this year.

“It’s really phenomenal to see as I go visit the schools that personal relationship that students and teachers have,” Duran said. “That’s a testament to speak to the teachers, the staff and the principal at the main campus for the work that they have done in the attending rate.”

For students Trenton is accountable for by living in the district, but not necessarily attending the high schools, the districtwide number also increased over the halfway mark to 52.9 percent for the first time since 2011 as well. Those numbers increased 5.3 percent in the four-year period.

Duran also outlined that due to the graduation rates of TCHS West during the past two years, 78.4 percent and 83.8 percent respectively, that school would no longer qualify as a focus school under the state.

School board member Gerald Truehart said he was thankful the district is making progress.

“It just really speaks to our mission,” he said. “No matter how small that progress is, we’re moving in the right direction.”