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The tassel turns
Graduation rate tops U.S. average
 
By World's Editorial Writers
Published: 6/10/2009  2:21 AM
Last Modified: 6/10/2009  3:54 AM

About 70 percent of Oklahoma's high school students graduate, a figure that is slightly above the national rate but one that definitely could stand a great deal of improvement. Oklahoma still ranks only 30th among the 50 states in students it graduates.

As state Superintendent Sandy Garrett noted: "We have much yet to accomplish in making certain that every man and woman in this state understand the critical importance of earning a high school diploma. Graduating 70.6 percent (in 2006) is not acceptable."

From 2005 to 2006, the latest figures available, Oklahoma's high school graduation rate actually dipped slightly, according to the 2009 "Diplomas Count" study by the Maryland-based Editorial Projects in Education Research Center.

New Jersey led the nation with an 82 percent graduation rate, while Nevada, at 47 percent, trailed the nation. The national rate rests at 69 percent.

On the positive side, Oklahoma's graduation rate increased by 3.6 percent from 1996 to 2006, surpassing the national pace of 2.8 percent during the same time period.

Both Garrett and Sterling Lloyd, a senior researcher on the "Diplomas Count" study, singled out Oklahoma's graduation rate for American Indian students as particularly impressive. The report showed a graduation rate of 64 percent for American Indians in Oklahoma, compared to 50 percent nationally.

Graduation rates for all other minority groups in Oklahoma — Asians, Hispanics and blacks — also surpassed the national average.
Only white students, with a graduation rate of 73 percent, trailed the national average of 76 percent (for white students graduating), according to the report.

Some Oklahoma students face numerous obstacles in getting a high school diploma. The state's poverty rate for children is high. Our high school dropout rate is unacceptable. Nutrition and health indexes indicate children often are not as healthy as they should be. Often teens may believe that it's easier to drop out than stick with school to get a diploma.

It is hard to convince 16-year-olds that failing to finish high school may be the worst thing they can do as far as future earning potential. But it is. Without that diploma their economic fate is more or less sealed. Their future options are instantly limited. Their lives will not be better but far worse on almost every level.

Oklahoma can do better and should. It's up to both those inside and outside the education community to help all of Oklahoma's high school students turn the tassel.
By World's Editorial Writers

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Report Comment
concernedpapa, Kiefer (6/10/2009 5:51:43 AM)
Let us all strive to increase this number. It would seem to me this is one is something we would all want to improve on.
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Ayo, T-Town (6/10/2009 2:28:02 PM)
Graduating HS is less about the difficulty in the curriculum than it is in the home life of those who drop out.

I won't pretend to know the statistics, but I bet almost all of the HS drop outs come from the poorest of the poor homes, and also have parent(s) who were HS drop outs.

One of the best programs out there is Headstart. It's been proven that the earlier they get cognitive stimulation the better the chance for success. Children who receive little cognitive stimulation beginning in infancy are already far behind those children who have recieved the attention by the time they start school. The brain needs stimulation early in life for the neurons to route snaptic many paths. Basicly, a parent can increase a babies intelligence by cognitive stimulation.

Couple that with all of the other social adversities which are present in the homes of the financially challenged children, and it presents many more obstacles to overcome than children from stable families.

Bad cycles are hard to break.
Report Comment
52favoriteteacher, Washburn--used to be Broken Arrow (6/10/2009 12:17:19 PM)
7 out of 10

tells you a lot about parents I said parents

Moms and Dads do you really think the one(some

more)hour I have your child that all the things

your child needs are covered?

Moms and Dads raise your children to be the

light that we all were meant to be...

Please turn off the TV, turn off the radio and

talk to your children each and every day.

Do Not Forsake So Great A Creation I Beg Of You

Myself included--my early years as a Dad left

a bitter pil...
Report Comment
Graychin, Eucha (6/10/2009 8:26:08 AM)
Good news!

But has Popeye heard about this?
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human1, Cast you fate to the wind (6/10/2009 12:05:12 PM)
righton...I wonder how many of them actually passed to graduate.

It is not easy to graduate these days! The employment market is overstressed and without a diploma whether you passed or not you probably will not get a job.

This is a good thing to hear about Oklahoma.
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human1, Cast you fate to the wind (6/10/2009 9:34:03 PM)
Many cities with above average income have drop outs! The schools and quality of teachers play a big role in that issue also.

Many times the parents just did not have time for the children since they were working hard and long hours trying not to be the poorest of families. Either way the parents are blamed for not providing something!
Report Comment
ckline, (6/10/2009 1:22:04 PM)
I'm less impressed with the numbers of students who graduate high school than with the number of those graduating who are funtionally literate. That is more to the point. Any chance we could get a story on that?
 

 
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