New York City's graduation rates are on the rise, Chancellor Klein and Mayor Bloomberg announced today. The State Education Department released the latest graduation data revealing that New York City's four-year graduation rate, counting only June graduates, climbed to 59& in 2009, up from 56.4% in 2008 and 46.5 % in 2005. Taking into account August graduations, something the city has done for years and the state started doing with the 2009 grads, the city's four-year rate hit 62.7 %. The statewide graduation rate was 72% in 2009.
We're still wading through all the data, but here are some of the highlights posted on the Department of Education's website. Graduation rates rose for all all ethnic groups -- white, black, Latino, and Asian students. Latino students crossed the 50% threshold for the first time with 52% graduating in June 2009; 56% counting August grads. English language learners made steady gains with 39.7% graduating in four years (June grads only) up from 35.8% in 2008 and 25. 1% in 2007.
Notably, fewer than half (44.6%) of all students graduating in 2009 earned a Regents Diploma, which will become the standard for all graduates starting with the class of 2012.
The city is still producing dismal results for special education students, with only a quarter graduating on time in 2009.
For those unfazed by lots of numbers, columns, and charts, check out the latest graduation rate data and a webcast of NYSED's news conference held Tuesday afternoon.
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