EDUCATION

Graduation rates surge in South Florida

There is good news for the Miami-Dade and Broward school districts: Graduation rates are up.

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BY KATHLEEN MCGRORY AND CARLI TEPROFF

KMCGRORY@MIAMIHERALD.COM

Graduation rates in Miami-Dade and Broward counties in 2009-2010 reached their highest levels since the state started keeping track, data released on Thursday showed.

In Miami-Dade, the percentage of students graduating on time climbed from 68 to 72 percent.

Broward saw its graduation rate leap from from 74 to 78 percent.

``That's a phenomenal jump,'' Broward Superintendent Jim Notter said. ``These are astonishing results given the economic climate.''

Statewide, the rate soared to 79 percent -- a full 10 percentage points higher than in 2005.

``Florida's improved graduation rate clearly shows that our reform efforts are making a difference in our schools,'' outgoing Gov. Charlie Crist said.

There are a handful of ways to calculate the graduation rate. Florida uses a formula approved by the National Governors Association.

It includes students who earned standard and special diplomas, but excludes students who earned a GED or who needed more than four years to complete high school.

More than 45 states have adopted the formula since 2005.

In Miami-Dade, this past year marked the first time the graduation rate surpassed 70 percent.

Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho credited teaching and school leadership. He also pointed to districtwide programs aimed at helping students graduate.

Last year, he said, the district offered more summer school programs to help high school students make up credits. Guidance counselors also encouraged more teenagers to take the ACTs and SATs -- scores that can fulfill the state graduation requirement if a student fails the FCAT.

``This tells us that we are taking the right steps in the right direction for the children of Miami-Dade County,'' Carvalho said.

United Teachers of Dade President Karen Aronowitz agreed.

``We're thrilled with the students who have done the work to graduate,'' she said.

``But we also will continue to work with the students who take longer than the traditional amount of time to graduate. Those students are successes as well.''

In Broward, more than half of all district-run schools saw a gain of five percentage points or more in their graduation rates.

Some senior high schools made eye-popping gains. Boyd Anderson in Lauderdale Lakes, for example, saw its graduation rate soar from 69 to 81 percent.

At Hallandale High, the figure leapt from 71 to 84 percent.

Coconut Creek High also made strong strides, increasing its graduation rate from 71 to 81 percent.

``We have worked really hard for this,'' said Principal David Jones, noting that the school places an emphasis on keeping students on track. ``The kids just need some guidance and they can do it.''

Said Notter: ``The great job that our teachers have done over the years is certainly starting to show now. [Students] clearly have quality foundations in the core subjects as well as the elective areas.''

School-by-school breakdowns were not available for Miami-Dade.

Despite the gains, a sizable achievement gap exists in each county.

The graduation rate for white non-Hispanic students in Miami-Dade was 82 percent. It was 64 percent for black students and 74 percent for Hispanic students.

In Broward, the rates were 85 percent, 69 percent and 81 percent for white, black andHispanic students, respectively.

But both districts say they have made progress in closing that gap.

``When we talk about a healthy increase in [Miami-Dade's] graduation rate, who do you think produced those results?'' Carvalho said. ``They are all minority students.''

This year, graduation rates take on a new importance in Florida.

For the first time, the rate factors into the grade each high school receives from the state Department of Education.

The letter grades are expected to be released in coming weeks.

Classics in Social Science - Projections

Friday, November 19, 2010