The Drop out rate uses a formula approved by the State, but it is very close to the Federal Standard. Students that leave school to pursue a GED, Job Corp, or really anything beside earning a diploma are considered drop outs.
We keep track of all students that withdraw during a school year. If they withdraw without going to another school, they are dropouts (W20). Those students have until October 1st of the next school year to return to school, or they are considered drop outs for State reporting purposes. So, we don’t know the number of drop outs from last year yet, since some are returning to school, others may be in other school systems. Our W20’s from last year have been reduced significantly, but that can change between now and when the drop out data is published by the State. Our W20’s have been reduced from 110 to about 65 so far this year. We still have a lot of tracking to do, before any drop data is submitted and approved by the State. A student might start in Septembe in another school system, but if they drop out before October 1st, they count as our drop out on the computerized system.
We are also responsible to make sure every student that left in June and did not graduate returns to school. We are tracking all of those students. We could give examples of how difficult it is to track those students.
There are two drop out figures given, an annual figure and a four year figure. The higher number is the four year figure. It uses some calculations to state that the drop rate for four years. It isn’t just multiplying the yearly figure by 4. I like to track the year to year figure, since we need to impact that to improve the four year figure.
With the State ID system, all students that remain in the State and go to another school eventually get counted. So, if we have a student that dropped out last year, and we can’t contact them, but they return to school in Manchester, they are not a drop out. If they leave school in Manchester this year (as an example) they would count as a drop out for Manchester.
It is possible for a student to return to school after October 1st, then drop out and could be counted twice a drop out. This shouldn’t happen, but if tracking the students is not accurate, it could happen.
So, when you say that dropouts have been reduced significantly, are you hopeful that this trend will continue and what would you attribute this to…
I am hopeful that this trend continues. Last year, the significant event was the opening of Bud Carlson Academy and about sixty students graduating from BCA. Spaulding High School is also doing a better job of tracking students that could drop out and supporting them.
We have 54 Seniors at BCA this year. Many of those students are returning to school and might not have graduated without BCA. That is almost half of the number of drop outs from previous years.
It’s my understanding that the freshman academy was created to reduce Spaulding’s drop-out rate. Are we far enough along to know whether it’s working? If so, what measurable progress have we seen? If not, at what point will we be able to say?
Thanks.
what we will be presented with shortly are dropout figures artificially reduced…the Bud Carlson Academy is a school where standards were reduced to achieve better graduation rates…it also appears that the state wants to re-classify those that get a GED as not being a dropout…this is a weak and pathetic response to failing our kids and for wasting taxpayers dollars…I am personally drawing a line in the sand on this and will turn this into my personal crusade…this is unacceptable!!!