From Deseret News archives:
Utah's graduation rates among best in U.S.
Jordan and Granite school districts also earned top-10 spots among the nation's largest districts for their high graduation rates, according to reports released Tuesday by Education Week and by the National Center on Education Statistics.
Both reports ranked Utah as a leader in the effort to prevent dropouts. Education Week placed the state 12th-highest in the United States, and the National Center pegged Utah as the eighth-highest state in the percentage of high school graduates.
"Whatever statistic you choose to use, they show Utah's public schools are doing a tremendous job working with our youth in achieving that educational milestone," Patti Harrington, state superintendent of education, said. "However, in a globally competitive environment, we cannot rest."
Overall, Utah high schools graduate 76.7 percent of their students, compared to the national average of 69.6 percent.
Graduation rates for Asian students in Utah, however, trailed the national average by about 6 percent, with a 71.2 percent graduation rate. White students in Utah had an 81.7 percent graduation rate.
"The minority numbers are still unacceptable," said Peterson. "There is still such a huge gap. There's a 10-20 point gap between them and white students."
Utah also came up short on how many classes high school students have to take to get those diplomas. Only three states had fewer graduation requirements than Utah, which has 15 total credit requirements, compared to a national average of 20.5, according to the Education Week report.
The State Board of Education is looking to increase those requirements to 18 by tacking on an extra year of math, science and English the core areas where Utah falls behind.
But education leaders don't want those more stringent requirements to negatively affect the banner graduation rates, Peterson said.
Comments
- Mitchell wants testimony excluded 1:36 p.m.
- Cleveland case expands overseas 1:27 p.m.
- Banks eye tight credit card terms 1:25 p.m.
- Prep girls soccer MVPs named 1:16 p.m.
- Iran accuses hikers of espionage 1:09 p.m.
- New bishop heads Lufkin LDS Church 1:03 p.m.
- Making health care better 1:03 p.m.
- Hall, Jorgensen honored by MWC 12:58 p.m.
- 'Start knocking heads' on healthcare 12:27 p.m.
- Pac-10 reinstates Oregon's Blount 12:25 p.m.
- TCU showdown has big implications
- Seniors helped BYU regroup
- Hope for single moms
- Lambert surprisingly tops news
- TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
- Bystanders framed for child porn
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated
- Utah Jazz Extra: Whose hot/not
- Newhouse Hotel, an explosive end
- TCU moves into 4th place in BCS
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
241 - House passes health care bill
211 - Lobo suspended
176 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
153 - TCU showdown has big implications
134 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
130 - Thousands protest health bill
106 - Provo company innovating engines
105 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
99
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
NASA's Stardust probe continues to bring new knowledge about the nature...
Alta vs. Bingham: Wow, what a match-up? Bingham won the first meeting by four...
Police need to be trained more and have a better understanding of people with...
Just for the record, while as far as I am aware, there is essentially no...
One per year in the whole state? That's pretty good if you ask me.
Here's why I've grown weary of the endless attacks on talk radio. Each time...
The only D1 player on MC will be Kuresa and he will not be going to Utah...
He should be in jail right now.
When will the right wing realize its impossible for someone to put themselves...
(Yawn) . . . nobody is interested on hearing how MC supposedly 'outplayed'...
I played for Timpview a few years back when they beat MC 38 to 0 in the...



You can be the first to comment on this story.