Syracuse City School District sees significant gains in graduation rates
(WAER Radio | Feb. 18, 2022) The remarkable rise in Syracuse City School District high school graduation rates can have an impact on city students’ and families’ futures according to education experts. Syracuse University professor of educational leadership George Theoharis remembered graduation success was under 50% in the city when he came here 18 years ago.
“I mean in these times if we are seeing authentic growth with kids’ outcome that should be celebrated. It means, during these hard times, the kids and their families and their teachers and staff, have found a way to make schoolwork that perhaps wasn’t working a few years ago. That’s really interesting considering all the problems around Covid and attendance and connecting with kids.”
“This kind of change means more students of color have a high school diploma. The particularly important thing, If they have the skills they need to go on and have a rich and thriving future.”
Graduation rates have been on the rise for the past three years. This Wednesday, the district released 2021 graduation rates that rose to 77%. The 2016 cohort of students had a graduation rate of 70.7%. Among Black students in the most recent 2017 cohort, the graduation rate was 80%. Theoharis found that last statistic impactful.
“In particular, the graduation rates for students of color in Syracuse have been a real problem. Way below the state average. And so, this kind of change means more students of color have a high school diploma. The particularly important thing, If they have the skills they need to go on and have a rich and thriving future” …
Read the full story and listen to the audio clip.
Lead photo: Calvin Milliner/WAER