Schools

Ferndale High School 4-Year Graduation Rate Up in 2012

Graduation and dropout rates for 2012 were released by the State of Michigan this month.

The four-year graduation rate at Ferndale High School increased to 93.24 percent in 2012, up nearly 6 percentage points from 2011, according to statistics released this month by the State of Michigan's Center for Educational Performance and Information.

Of the 207 Ferndale High School students set to earn their diplomas within four years in 2012, 193 (93.24 percent) graduated. A total of 5 students (less than 5 percent) dropped out at some point during their high school career.

In 2011, the four-year graduation rate was 87.34 percent. The dropout rate has remained consistent at less than 5 percent in 2011 and 2012.

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Ferndale Public Schools community relations director Stephanie Hall said Monday that the district's curriculum and instruction team has been focusing on "every student's success."

"We are very pleased that our graduation rates continue to increase," she said. "... We believe that we can make a real difference through individual attention. We are making sure that students have access to credit recovery options over the summer, and that they stay connected to school, even if they are facing challenges in graduating on time."

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The graduation rate at University High School has remained consistent over the past two years at more than 95 percent - one of the highest graduation rates in the area, Hall said.

"UHS has a mission of ensuring all students graduate and are accepted to colleges or universities," Hall said.

Hall said the district's pupil services team works with every school on a student-by-student basis to ensure that students who are no longer attending high school in the district are successfully enrolled elsewhere. "This attention to individualized attention has contributed to our rising graduation rate," she said.

Four-year graduation rates for Ferndale's adult education program went up to 19.7 percent in 2012 from 16.17 percent in 2011. This program has been discontinued and replaced by the new Digital Learning Center.

Statewide trends

The results in Ferndale were in line with statewide trends showing an increase in four-year graduates. Across Michigan, four-year graduation rates for students expected to graduate last spring increased to 76.24 percent, up 1.9 percent from the 2011 rate of 74.33.

Students are divided into "cohorts"—a combination of students who began ninth grade in the district four years prior, and including students who transferred in or our within the four year period. So for 2012 graduates, the cohort includes students who began at Ferndale High School in 2008, or transferred into the district before 2012 graduation.

The state also tracks students who were off track for four-year graduation but continuing their education, those who graduated or dropped out past the four-year mark, and those who completed their GED, or reached the maximum special education age.

“These numbers reflect the highest rates we have seen since we started reporting the data using a cohort methodology,” said CEPI director Thomas Howell. “This methodology allows us to track individual students from the first time they enroll as ninth-graders and has resulted in a more accurate measure of high school success for our students.”

More than 53 percent of Michigan’s school districts saw higher graduation rates. The largest increase in graduation rates throughout a five-year period were seen in several racial and ethnic groups. According to the report, rates for black students reached 59.93 percent last year, an increase of 3.64 percent since 2008. Hispanic student rates were at 64.3 percent, up 3.97 percent. This year’s rate reflects that 73.52 percent of multiracial students graduated in four years, increasing the annual rate by 3.52 percent since 2008.

“This is more positive news for Michigan public schools,” said state superintendent Mike Flanagan. “This is reflective of how our teachers and students are succeeding with the rigorous Michigan Merit Curriculum and being better prepared to continue Michigan’s economic comeback. We must stay on this positive course and keep our standards high and Michigan Merit Curriculum intact.”


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