South Carolina officials are reporting a modest increase in the public school graduation rate, although the Palmetto State still ranks 49th out of 50 states in the most recent national rankings.
According to data released this month by the S.C. State Department of Education (SCSDE), the state’s “overall on-time graduation rate” currently stands at 73.6 percent – which is up 1.5 percent from 2010 (but down 4.4 percent from 2003).
Of course these “official” numbers don’t tell the whole story. In fact, the state data released this month only tracks students beginning in the spring semester of their sophomore year. The department’s own consultants (and out-of-state experts) have consistently pointed out that the biggest problem with respect to dropout rates in the Palmetto state are kids who don’t make it out of ninth grade on time.
Here’s the state data …
(Click to enlarge)
Graph: S.C. Department of Education
A far better indicator is the cumulative promotion index (CPI), which is the metric used in the “Diplomas Count” report – the national standard for graduation rate data.
According to the latest “Diplomas Count” report – released in June by Education Week – only 58.6 percent of South Carolina high school students graduate on time. That’s the second-lowest rate in the entire nation (trailing only New Mexico) and is well below the national average of 71.7 percent.
South Carolina’s abysmal graduation rate is consistent with our declining SAT and stagnating NAEP and ACT scores. Also, a recent report found that more than one-third of the nation’s 100 worst public schools are located in South Carolina.
“A one-size-fits-all approach to education won’t increase graduation rates,” S.C. Superintendent Mick Zais said. “We need creative, innovative, and student-centered solutions that match students with learning environments that meet their needs.”
Um … ya think?
Unfortunately, a comprehensive parental choice plan that would have provided those “student-centered solutions” – not to mention some long-overdue market-based pressure – wasn’t even considered by state lawmakers this year.
Nor was consolidating our top-heavy education bureaucracy or reforming our method of funding so that dollars more closely follow the child.
Instead, our “Republican” governor and “GOP” General Assembly simply dumped a record amount of money into our failed K-12 monopoly. In fact, per pupil funding for the 2011-12 fiscal year is $11,754 per student this year (not counting bonds, investments and transfers) – the highest amount ever.
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By Popeye November 15, 2011 at 7:20 pm
Well, this jives well with Nikki claiming that South Carolina is becoming one of the best states in the country. And she absolutely believes the ports will be the best in the country. What a door knocker.
By Naughty Nookie Nikki November 15, 2011 at 7:24 pm
Sic was walking home when Nikki asked “Say, wanna have a good time?” “Sure,” he says and off they were to her state issued SUV.
Nikki takes off her clothes and he keeps staring at her. She asked, “Is this the first pussy you’ve seen since you crawled out of one?”
“Nope, just the first one I’ve seen big enough to crawl back into.”
By RedTick November 15, 2011 at 9:27 pm
No High School Diploma, no drivers license. Have a temporary high school license that will be revoked if you do not get your diploma or GED. Simple as that.
By RedTick November 15, 2011 at 9:29 pm
@Naughty. Did I see your joke on another post? Brownie points for double and triple posts?
By baker November 15, 2011 at 9:48 pm
To me, “on time” graduation rates aren’t the key. If it takes a kid an extra year to graduate, then that isn’t such a huge deal. Many, many students take 5 or 6 years to finish college and no one thinks much of it. If some kids do better by leaving their regular high school and enrolling in adult ed or some other alternative-ish program, then it might be best for all involved.
Regarding the “one size fits all” claim, is Mick Zais going to include that every time he makes a public comment?
Fact is, our public schools — especially at the secondary level — offer a huge array of course offerings and extra-curricular programs to customize the educational experience of a diverse student population. Which isn’t to say we couldn’t use more in the way of technical education programs, career awareness, AP offerings, arts programs, small class sizes for more individual attention…..and so on……right, Dr. Zais?
By eggaday November 15, 2011 at 9:52 pm
I don’t quite understand how this all works, but I’ve recently read that all this so called ” Union Busting” that Nikki Haley wants to do is really about getting rid of public education.
Just sayin……
By Dick Tracey November 15, 2011 at 10:14 pm
its alright sc has a lot of taxe payers money!
By Bob Dalton November 15, 2011 at 10:22 pm
“Comprehensive parental choice plan.” lol
By BIN News November 15, 2011 at 10:51 pm
sic(k) willie’s so called “comprehensive parental choice plan” is nothing but Howie’s the Voucher Clown’s same old “voucher scam.”
They just keep putting new lipstick on the same voucher pig.
But, a pig is a pig.
And, Howie’s voucher scam is just a scam.
Come on sic(k) willie.
Admit the obvious. You know Howie’s voucher scam would only leave those who need help the most even further behind.
By BIN News November 15, 2011 at 10:55 pm
Ooops. Sorry for the typo.
Our Funding Editor had her new Mac out again tonight and after reading this latest voucher scam cr@p from sic(K0 willie she puked another evening Metamucil and BlackJack cocktail on the keyboard.
Again.
We had a hard time cleaning it up the last time.
This time it was a really sticky mess.
By Joe r November 15, 2011 at 11:17 pm
The kids will be known as a lost generation.
No jobs, no meaningful lives, no impact…fodder for tea party ideologues…
By Lewis November 16, 2011 at 7:15 am
The SC Department of Education has over the past 20 years hired at least 20 more “consultants” to stuff into their building on Senate Street to handle the problem.
By Ed November 16, 2011 at 8:33 am
Republicans have controlled the House and Senate for the last 25 years or so and all but 4 years of the governor’s house and yet we continue to lag in every single category and yet the dumbasses of this state continue to vote the same incompetent people back into office who continue to be unable to do anything about our state. Only in SC would these ass-clowns keep getting voted into office, if only because the status quo is keeping us dead last.
By conservative republican November 16, 2011 at 1:20 pm
They teach crap to the masses and treat the college kids good because they will get money from them for decades of
student loans. Most high schools teach TO THE COLLEGE KIDS and do not have barely enough courses to teach a trade to those who will not go to college and who could start a business. Over the years many of our high school students have taken lots of college course electives that are stupid like yoga & snow skiing. Schools teach to the college loan crowd and the burger-flippers because they dont want skilled workers anymore. They need bodies; “workers”, “time-clock-punchers” who will be slaves to the corporations their whole lives.
By Blah Blah Blah November 16, 2011 at 3:29 pm
Bingo “conservative republican”, btw, how do you get along with an oxymoron for a name?
But then again, I’m sure this whole problem could be “fixed” if we spent more money per pupil, right?
lol…I’ve been waiting for the various educrats to come on and fight that battle…they have yet to materialize but instead fight the “voucher” battle because they simply want to preserve what they have in light of their abject failure. (probably a good strategy)
They know that real competition will put the beast they are a part of down and out of its proverbial misery.
By George November 17, 2011 at 3:44 am
That just means that there are more stupid people in South Carolina than any other state. Someone has to be at the bottom, so why not South Carolina?
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By guy February 10, 2012 at 6:32 pm
after reading above article i can now understand why newt won the repulbican primary(wake up south carolina)