The state has released the four-year cohort graduation rates for 2012, and the news is good for New Orleans.
The combined graduation rate for all New Orleans public schools rose to 77.8%.
Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rate by District
New Orleans = OPSB, RSD, charter and traditional schools
- The New Orleans graduation rate of 77.8% compares well to the rest of the country. According to the U.S. Department of Education report released in November, in 2011 the national average graduation rate for African American students was 60%, and the national average for white students was 76%.
- In New Orleans, public school enrollment is 88% African American, 6% white and 6% other.
- New Orleans outperformed the state of Louisiana (72.3%).
- New Orleans also outperformed Shreveport (63.4%) Baton Rouge (66%) and Jefferson Parish (70.4%).
- RSD-New Orleans is among the most-improved districts, going from a graduation rate of 58.8% in 2011 to 67.7% in 2012.
- RSD-New Orleans ranks #49, outperforming Baton Rouge and Shreveport. The RSD took over the worst performing high schools in the state. This progress in just a few years is remarkable.
- OPSB has the highest graduation rate in the state, although it dropped from 93.8% in 2011 to 89.3% in 2012.