Troy's 4-Year Graduation Rate Looks Positive

The four-year graduation rates for students at Troy schools outpace the state by more than 14 percent, according to data released last week by the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI).

Troy schools graduated 874 students last year in its four-year cohort, a rate of 90.29 percent. The dropout rate was an even 3 percent.

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 high school at Troy schools 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.

Troy High finished with a graduation rate of 97.23 percent and Troy Athens High was right behind with 95.3 percent. The district's alternative education program, Niles Community High, finished with 37.04 percent.

Troy assistant superintendent for secondary education Richard Machesky said that the high graduation rate is cited by the district's numerous programs targeted to at-risk students, including the Niles program as well as the Summer Success Program.

"We target eighth-graders who have had challenges in middle school in terms of grades in the areas of math and English for an intervention," Machesky said.

"The intervention is a pretty intensive summer course. It goes for 24 sessions of about three-and-a-half hours per session. They can earn up to a credit before they start high school, which creates a sense of efficacy and accomplishment, as well as provide somewhat of a cushion if they do lose a credit in high school."

Machesky added that the district has found the program successful over the past two years since being enacted — 100 students have gone on to ninth grade and 90 percent did not lose credits that year, he said.

The district is currently working to expand the program, with classes beginning in July for similar at-risk students going into fourth grade and another for students going into sixth grade.

"Our feeling was, it’s important that we be proactive, in particular in response to the Michigan Merit Curriculum, as all students now have to have Algebra 2 before they graduate," Machesky said.

How do Troy schools compare with others nearby?

Note: This chart was edited to correct an error on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 11:42 a.m.

Merit Curriculum working, said state superintendent

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.

“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.”

For more information about Troy schools' student enrollment, including students who stayed in school longer to earn a diploma in five or six years, visit mischooldata.org.