Comparison of Graduation, Completion, and Dropout Rates
Graduation Rates - Class of 2007
Completer Rates - Class of 2007
Link to Class of 2006 Graduation, Completer & Dropout Rates
State and Local Dropout Prevention Initiatives
NEWS RELEASE
Release Date: June 11, 2008
Contact: Caron Blanton, APR, Director of Communications, 601-359-3706
Mississippi Department of Education announces graduation, dropout rates for Class of 2007
We have 187 more graduates in the Class of 2007 than we had in the Class of 2006, State Superintendent of Education Dr. Hank M. Bounds announced at a press conference held today in Jackson.
"With an average $286,350 more earning potential over their lifetimes than high school dropouts, these students represent a $53,547,450 return on our investment," said Dr. Bounds. "That's almost $54 million more that will be going into Mississippi's economy."
The graduation and dropout rates for the Class of 2007 were released today, showing improvement over the previous year. The graduation rate for the Class of 2007 is 73.8 percent, while the dropout rate is 15.9 percent. The graduation rate for the Class of 2006 was 70.8 percent, while the dropout rate was 17.6 percent.
"The trend lines show that we are making improvement in our graduation and dropout rates," said Dr. Bounds. "Our dropout prevention initiatives that began in 2008 have us on track to meet our goal of reducing the dropout rate by 50 percent in the next five to seven years. The slight uptick in graduation rates from the year before we even began our dropout prevention focus gives us a good starting place."
The figures are calculated by tracking individual students through the Mississippi Student Information System. The system depends on self-reported data provided by the districts.
"There are some anomalies in the data at the district level," said Dr. Bounds. "We are working to correct those through focused monitoring efforts and technical assistance."
Mississippi is one of only 17 states already using the National Governors Association method to calculate graduation and dropout rates. The National Governors Association endorsed this method through a compact signed by the governors of all 50 states in 2005. U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings recently announced the U.S. Department of Education would build on the work of the National Governors Association to establish a uniform graduation rate that shows how many incoming freshman in a given high school graduate within four years.
"The momentum for dropout prevention is building in every corner of the state," said Dr. Bounds. "The initiatives we have underway at both the state and local level are making a difference. The most significant difference will be in the lives of the boys and girls that will be saved from the life of struggle that high school dropouts suffer and given the opportunity for success that a high school diploma gives them."
The Mississippi Department of Education's statewide Dropout Prevention initiatives include:
• On the Bus branding campaign, including television ads, radio spots, billboards and a Web site. A $1.5 million grant from State Farm® Insurance Companies funded the campaign.
• Dropout Prevention Summits, including one for teens and one for education, business and community leaders, were held earlier this year to identify and implement localized dropout prevention initiatives.
• Business Donations, including a $100,000 grant from Nissan North America to 10 central Mississippi school districts to help fund their local dropout prevention plans and a custom-designed guitar from Peavey Electronics in honor of the "On the Bus" campaign, with proceeds from each guitar going to the Afterschool Alliance of Mississippi.
• Redesigning Education for the 21st Century Workforce in Mississippi, which was piloted in 14 school districts during the 2007-2008 school year and will be expanded to an additional 19 school districts during the 2008-2009 school year. The original 14 pilot sites will continue implementing the program.
• There are many local initiatives underway to help keep students in school through graduation. Local district dropout prevention plans, which were developed and submitted to the Mississippi Board of Education this Spring, will begin the implementation phase of those plans in the 2008-2009 school year.
"When Mississippi education succeeds, Mississippi businesses succeed and Mississippi's quality of life improves," said Blake Wilson, president, Mississippi Economic Council. "Mississippi businesses must have a quality workforce to prosper and thrive."
The Mississippi Department of Education's efforts will be enhanced by the work of the recently-established Mississippi Center for Education Innovation. Under the leadership of former Tennessee Education Chief Dr. Lana Seivers, the Center will focus their efforts on supporting the Mississippi Board of Education's two bold goals of reaching the national average on national assessments and cutting the dropout rate in half over the next five to seven years.
"We are thrilled to begin our efforts when such progress is already being made," said Dr. Seivers. "Mississippi is definitely on the right track and we look forward to working with Dr. Bounds and his team to ensure that all students succeed."
The Mississippi Center for Education Innovation is funded through a $16.9 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
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