Roanoke’s 67.7% graduation rate had to come as decent news at the city school’s administration building but not what they had hoped.
It’s basically a plateau number compared to its nearly eight percent jump from 2008 to 2009.
Roanoke was at the plateau level for its school accreditation and AYP results for this year as well.
Roanoke’s high schools, William Fleming and Patrick Henry, will likely be hurt even more next year because graduation rates will factor in the commonwealth’s school accreditation calculation.
A 1.1 % increase in its graduation rate is respectable but not the near eight percent increase the district saw between 2008 to 2009.
I disagree with other media outlets when they compare urban school districts like Roanoke City (67.7 % graduation rate) to more suburban school districts such as Roanoke County (which had around a 91 % graduation rate).
I don’t think the comparison is fair. And I’ve seen local media do it, like the Roanoker magazine several years ago.
There are different socio-economic factors which weigh heavily on urban districts that suburban districts never see.
Fair comparisons for Roanoke city schools include Danville, Lynchburg, and other urban schools.
Unfortunately Roanoke has traditionally lagged behind, sometimes far behind, those districts as well.
We’ll be four years into the Rita Bishop era next June so the 2011 graduation rate may be a good mark to examine.
Another big percentage point jump might signal more peaks are to come for Roanoke city schools.
Another marginal increase and the district might not get to 70 percent again next year, and in Roanoke a 70 percent graduation rate would be something to celebrate.
Posted by Scott Leamon at 06:19 PM. Filed under: leamon •
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