Press release from Fort Wayne Community Schools:
FWCS graduation rate increases, remains higher than state average
The graduation rates increased at each of the six Fort Wayne Community Schools high schools for the class of 2009. For the second straight year, the district average was higher than the state average.
In 2009, FWCS’ graduation rate was 83.2 percent, nearly 3 percentage points higher than the state average of 81.5 percent. In 2008, the graduation rate for FWCS was 78.9 percent.
“It is a significant achievement for an urban school district to be above the state average for two years,” Superintendent Dr. Wendy Robinson said. “Our staffs have worked hard to make sure our students are successful, but our work isn’t done yet. We made great strides in seeing our students through to graduation, but that is just the first step to making sure they are successful in life.”
Each high school saw a higher percentage of students graduate with increases over 2008 rates ranging from 1.5 percentage points to 7 percentage points.
School / 2008 Grad Rate / 2009 Grad Rate / Change
Elmhurst / 79% / 84.1% / +5.1%
North Side / 68% / 75.3% / +7.3%
Northrop / 85.6% / 90.3% / +4.7%
Snider / 88% / 90% / +2%
South Side / 70.4% / 75.1% / +4.7%
Wayne / 76.8% / 78.3% / +1.5%“These numbers show that what we are doing through our High School Reinvent process is paying off,” Dr. Robinson said. “The class of 2009 showed us that when we focus on building relationships with students and making sure their coursework is rigorous and relevant to life after high school, we can help our student achieve success. As these programs get stronger and we implement additional changes with the support of the Race to the Top initiative, we expect our students will make even greater strides toward excellence.”
About Fort Wayne Community Schools
With nearly 32,000 students, Fort Wayne Community Schools is Indiana’s second-largest school district. FWCS proudly allows families to choose any of its 53 schools through its successful school-choice program creating diversity in each school, including some with more than 75 languages spoken. FWCS offers seven magnet schools focusing on areas such as fine arts or Montessori at the elementary and middle school level as well as the prestigious International Baccalaureate program for high school students.
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The most likely explanation for increased graduation rates in FWCS and across the state is that teenagers can’t get jobs because of the poor economy. So they stay in school. “High School Reinvent” and “Freshman Academies” are mostly window dressing. They won’t hurt but they won’t solve the core problem in the early grades.
I have to question why this blog publishes press releases from public entities
verbatim without questioning their purpose (which is to make themselves look good) or veracity (when they are cherry picking the data).
I publish press releases verbatim without question, spin or commentary because that is what I chose to do. There enough other blogs that dissect, spin and tear apart the view points of public entities without the need from myself. If I didn’t allow comments, then there might be a point/need for your question.
It’s refreshing to have one source to go to for straight reporting. I applaud Stephen’s work and the efforts he puts into this blog. It’s a great resource and fresh approach versus the nothing is ever done right attitude and nastiness of certain other bloggers, including yourself, Evert.
If you are so right about the ineptitude of FWCS, why were you and the the other Code Blue candidate(s) defeated so easily in the last Board elections? It’s because of your nastiness and inability to see anything positive in anything FWCS does.