State plans change in graduation rate formula

PROVIDENCE – The state is changing the way high school graduation rates are calculated, causing education officials to reduce a previously reported 89.2 percent rate by 19 percentage points.
Under the new formula, the graduation rate for the Rhode Island’s Class of 2007 was 70.1 percent, which is below the national graduation rate of 70.6 percent for the Class of 2005 reported last week by Education Week, using the same formula – according to the R.I. Department of Education.
While the previous graduation rate included all graduates regardless of how many years they were in high school, the new calculation includes only four-year graduates, which accounts for about 6 percent of the change, the department said.
Also under the previous formula, many students who left school for unknown reasons were not counted as dropouts. Under the new formula, all “unknown” departures from the school system are listed as dropouts.
The new formula is endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Governors Association. &#8226