NYC High School Graduation Rate Hits Record High

NEW YORK, NY — Nearly three quarters of New York City high schoolers graduated high school on time last year, setting a new record, city officials announced Wednesday. The city's four-year graduation rate rose to an all-time high of 74.3 percent in the 2016-17 school year, a 1.2-percentage-point increase from the prior year.

The high school dropout rate hit a new low at the same time, falling 0.6 percentage points to 7.8 percent, the city said.

"Our graduation and dropout rates continue to improve steadily and show that we’re on the right track," city schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña said in a statement. "This is a day to recognize the incredible impact our educators have on our children’s lives, and to celebrate their dedication to their craft."

Graduation rates improved across every ethnic group and in every borough. But some groups improved more than others, and disparities remain.

Hispanic students had the lowest graduation rate last year at 68.3 percent, a 1-percentage-point improvement from the year before. The rate for Asian students rose 1.8 points to 87.5 percent, the highest rate and the largest increase of any ethnic group.

Dropout rates showed a similar pattern. Some 10.7 percent of Hispanic students who entered ninth grade in 2013 ended up quitting high school before last year. That's 0.6 percentage points less than the prior year but still the highest of any ethnic group. The dropout rate for Asian students also fell 0.6 points to 4 percent, the lowest of any ethnic group.

The Bronx's graduation rate, the lowest among the five boroughs, improved 1.4 percentage points to 66.3 percent. That's 14 points lower than Staten Island's 80.3-percent rate, the best among the five boroughs.

Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration attributed the progress to initiatives that offer computer science and college-level Advance Placement classes at every high school. Officials also touted de Blasio's universal pre-kindergarten and elementary reading programs, though the students who graduated last year wouldn't have participated in them.

"If we are going to make New York City the fairest big city in America, it starts with giving our kids the education they deserve, and we are executing this vision every day," de Blasio, a Democrat, said in a statement.

(Lead image: baipooh/Shutterstock.com)