The state just released new data on cohort graduation rates and college enrollment rates. Continuing our By the Numbers series, Educate Now! takes a look at the class of 2014.
THE GOOD NEWS
100% more students enrolled in college
In 2005, only 675 Orleans Parish Public School graduates enrolled in a two or four year college the following fall, compared to 1,360 graduates from New Orleans’ class of 2014.
Even though the 2014 senior class was much smaller than the 2005 senior class (2,654 students versus 3,753), our schools sent a much higher proportion of students to college. This tremendous increase is a testament to the hard work of educators in New Orleans.
2005 vs. 2014
| 2005 | 2014 | |
|
Number of seniors
|
3573 | 2654 |
|
Number of graduates
|
2878 | 2305 |
|
Number enrolled in college
|
675 | 1360 |
|
Percent of senior class in college
|
19% | 51% |
65% of Black males graduated on time: New Orleans outperforms nation
- The national graduation rate for Black males was 59%.
- Louisiana’s graduation rate for Black males was 59%.
- New Orleans graduation rate for Black males was 65%.
New Orleans is one of the top cities in the country for graduating Black males.
The Schott report also examined 2012 graduation rates for some of the largest urban school districts (10,000 or more Black males). If New Orleans had been included2, it would have ranked #4 out of the 57 districts across the country. Washington, D.C. had a Black male graduation rate of 40%, Atlanta 38%, and Detroit 25%. Montgomery County, Maryland topped the list with a 69% graduation rate.
60% of students with disabilities graduated on time (in 4 years or less)
- New Orleans significantly outperformed the state’s 43% graduation rate for students with disabilities.
- New Orleans improved 11 points from 2013.
New Orleans outperformed the state in all subgroups
|
District
|
Black | Black Male | Free/Reduced Lunch | Students with Disabilities3 | ||||
| 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | |
| All New Orleans (RSD+OPSB) | 70.7 | 71 | 64.9 | 64.8 | 71.7 | 72.4 | 59.6 | 48.2 |
| Louisiana | 67.9 | 65.9 | 60.2 | 59.4 | 68.8 | 67.7 | 42.8 | 36.7 |
THE BAD NEWS
High school transition to college or work needs major improvement
Cowen Institute recently released a report on Opportunity Youth – youth ages 16-24 who are not in school and not in college. The New Orleans metro area had an estimated 26,000 opportunity youth. Experts estimate 55% of them graduated from high school and/or have some college. While our high schools are doing a better job keeping students in schools and graduating them, they are failing to prepare our young people for the transition post high school.
The graduation rate did not improve from 2013
Twenty-seven percent of students who enter high school do not graduate on time (in 4 years). We need to do better.
A CLOSER LOOK A THE NUMBERS
| Class of 2014 | 2013-14 | 2012-13 | 2004-05 |
|
Four-year cohort graduation rate4
|
73% | 73% | |
|
Number of seniors5
|
2654 | 2525 | 3573 |
|
Number of graduates6
|
2305 | 2155 | 2878 |
|
Percent of graduates enrolled in college the following year
|
59% | 54% | 23% |
|
Percent of seniors enrolled in college the following year
|
51% | 45% | 19% |
|
Average ACT Composite Score7
|
18.4 | 18.1 | 17 |
|
% Proficient on EOC/GEE (all HS students)
|
59% | 54% | 39% |
Congratulations to these 6 RSD high schools with a 2014 cohort graduation rate above the state average of 75% percent.8 (OPSB hasn’t released school results yet.)
|
School
|
College
Enrollment
|
| Benjamin Franklin High School |
84%
|
| Lusher Charter School |
83%
|
| Cohen College Prep |
78%
|
| Edna Karr High School |
77%
|
| Sci Academy |
73%
|
| Warren Easton Senior High School |
73%
|
| KIPP Renaissance High School |
71%
|
| Eleanor McMain |
66%
|
| N.O. Charter Science and Math High School |
64%
|
| International High School of New Orleans |
62%
|
Congratulations to these 10 high schools with a fall college enrollment rate above the state average of 59%.
|
School
|
College
Enrollment
|
| Benjamin Franklin High School |
84%
|
| Lusher Charter School |
83%
|
| Cohen College Prep |
78%
|
| Edna Karr High School |
77%
|
| Sci Academy |
73%
|
| Warren Easton Senior High School |
73%
|
| KIPP Renaissance High School |
71%
|
| Eleanor McMain |
66%
|
| N.O. Charter Science and Math High School |
64%
|
| International High School of New Orleans |
62%
|
Notes:
View 2014 cohort graduation rates by district.
View 2013 college enrollment rates by school.
1 Source: Louisiana Department of Education.
2 Educate Now! does not know why New Orleans was not included in the report. We were included pre-Katrina. Hopefully we will be included in the future.
3 Students with Disabilities are students with an IEP (Individual Education Plan).
4 The four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate is the percent of first-time 9th graders who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma. Students who enter 9th grade together for the first time form the cohort, which is then “adjusted” by adding any students who transfer into the cohort (through October 1 of the cohort’s junior year) and subtracting any students who are legitimate leavers. The graduation rate for that cohort is calculated by taking the number of students who graduate in four years and dividing that by the number of students in the adjusted cohort for the graduating class. The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) could not calculate a 2005 graduation rate as schools were closed and could not review/correct the initial data.
5 Source: LDOE October 1 student counts
6 Source National Student Clearinghouse. View LDOE’s College Enrollment Reports for2013-14 and 2012-13 by district and high school.
7 In 2005, juniors and seniors were not required to take the ACT as they are today, so the gains in ACT performance score are understated.
8 Source: Recovery School District release.