Escambia Graduation Rate Up Significantly

January 6, 2016

The graduation rate in Escambia County is up significantly, according to numbers released Tuesday by the Florida Department of Education.

The Escambia County School District’s graduation rate for the 2014-15 school year was 72.7 percent, up 6.6 percent from the year and a huge 15 percent from a 57.7 percentage rate in 2010-11.

“This was the single largest increase in the graduation rate in any year in the past 10 years,” Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said.

During the 2009-2010 school year, Escambia’s schools became very focused on data, Thomas said, and students began to become more focused on a careers and academics, thanks in part to career academies that now number 63 spread throughout every middle and high school in the district.

“Students have come to realize that that high school diploma is that ticket to the next phase in life,” he said.

Every high school in the Escambia School District showed a higher graduation rate from 2013-14 to 2014-15, except a slight decrease at West Florida High School.

Following West Florida at 92.5 percent, the highest graduation rates in the county last year were Washington at 83.9 percent, Tate at 80.2 percent, and Northview at 78.9 percent — all three of which have improved graduation rates by 10 percent or more since 2009-2010.

“I think our better days are still ahead of us,” Thomas said. The district had hired graduation coaches that work with students to develop a plan to make sure they are able to graduate within four years.

Florida’s statewide graduation rate climbed to 77.8 percent, an increase of 7.2% since the  2010-2011 school year, and 1.7 percentage points over last year.

Pictured: Class of 2015 Tate High School Valedictorian Hannah Phillips. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

4 Responses to “Escambia Graduation Rate Up Significantly”

  1. In the System on January 6th, 2016 4:32 pm

    These numbers are convoluted. Working in the education system I have seen how so many more students are passing from grade to grade and eventually graduating. It is next to impossible to fail a student nowadays. Students are given MULTIPLE attempts to pass tests – a minimum of 2 or 3 with each successive test “watered down” until there is no way to fail it unless the student answers none of the questions at all. And if a teacher does “fail a student” the explanation and paperwork associated with it is enough to force one to retire.

    While I am not certain of it (I am not privy to such information) I am relatively confident that it all goes back to the federal government sticking its nose in a states’ right issue – education. If the SCHOOLS aren’t “making the grade” then federal funding will be reduced. That is why MANY Florida schools spend the entire spring semester “teaching the test” – the FCAT. The schools have to keep up the facade.

    State law makers need to take back the educational system and go back to EDUCATING and not teaching “the tests.”

  2. Bill on January 6th, 2016 4:11 pm

    Shame. Back in the 70’s I graduated, almost unless I’m forgetting someone, a 98%+ of all students did. my kids are grown now (30’s) but in late 90’s in PCola (Pine Forest & Catholic) percentage was much higher than this lowly number. I ask, is it the level of teachers, administration, or parenthood. Nothing to brag about Esc County, get 90%+ and then I’ll respect the effort.

  3. Gene on January 6th, 2016 8:12 am

    Becoming Career focused is the key, Having kids prepared for the Local workforce. I highly admire the dream that put Gulf power & Cox in the partnership at West Florida High, training kids for their jobs as well as Law enforcement & Medical. Kids need to plan for a future not just meandering through life.

  4. Jan on January 6th, 2016 5:57 am

    Good news and congrats to the schools as well as grads

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News