July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

High school grad rates announced (01/03/06)


By By JACK RONALD-

About three-quarters of eligible Jay County students earned a high school diploma last year, roughly the same percentage for the state as a whole.

But more than half of Indiana's high schools graduated more than 80 percent of their students, including neighboring South Adams High School, which had a graduation rate of 85 percent in 2006.

"Our goal is to get 100 percent graduated," Jay Schools superintendent Tim Long said this morning. "They've changed the way they calculate the graduation rate this year."

Long noted that while the local graduation rate has been pretty consistently in line with the state average, Jay County High School has increased the number of graduates seeking higher education. Ten years ago, he said, about 42 percent of JCHS graduates went on to higher education, while last year about 62 percent did so.

"Our percentage is a very respectable percent," South Adams superintendent Cathy Egolf said this morning.

"It's not great. It's not good enough. But it's above the state average."

Two high schools - Medora and New Harmony - reported 100 percent graduation rates, 42 reported graduation rates of 90 to 99.9 percent, and 159 reported graduation rates of 80 to 89.9 percent.

Jay County High School was among 98 schools reporting graduation rates of 70 to 79.98 percent. The rate for JCHS was 75.7 percent.

Thirty-four schools reported graduation rates of 60 to 69.9 percent, 11 reported rates of 50 to 59.9 percent, and 15 schools reported graduation rates of less than 50 percent.

The Indiana Department of Education used a new formula in 2006 for calculating graduation rates. As spelled out by the Indiana General Assembly, the new formula begins by establishing a cohort or class of first-time freshmen that expands and contracts as students transfer during the years that follow. Student identification numbers are used to track each students progress since entering high school.

Because the new formula tracks a specific class from ninth grade to its expected graduation date, these numbers are expected to vary from year to year.

"Every class is different," Egolf noted.

Here's how the state and local figures break down:

•Graduating - Indiana average 76.5 percent, JCHS 75.7 percent, South Adams 85 percent.

•Dropping out or undetermined - Indiana average 11.2 percent, JCHS 13.3 percent, South Adams, 1.9 percent.

•Still in school - Indiana average 7.4 percent, JCHS 3.5 percent, South Adams 6.5 percent.

•Receiving a course completion certificate but no diploma - Indiana average 0.7 percent, JCHS 2 percent, South Adams 0.9 percent.

•Receiving a special education certificate - Indiana average 1.1 percent, JCHS 2.4 percent, South Adams 1.9 percent.

•Earning a General Equivalency Diploma - Indiana average 3.2 percent, JCHS 3.1 percent, South Adams 3.7 percent.

State officials noted several dropout prevention initiatives are under way.[[In-content Ad]]
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