Escambia graduation rates lag, especially for black students

Rick Outzen

8 years ago

The Escambia County graduation rates have improved but still lag behind national, state and peer counties.

Year Â Â Â National Â State

2009-10 Â 78 Â Â Â Â Â 69

2010-11 Â 79 Â Â Â Â Â 70.6

2011-12Â Â Â 80Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 74.5

2012-13Â Â Â 81Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 75.6

2013-14Â Â Â 82Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 76.1

——————EscambiaÂ Â Â Â MarionÂ Â Â Â LakeÂ Â Â Â SarasotaÂ Â Â Â St.Lucie

Enrollment Â Â 40,753Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 42,107Â Â Â 41,794Â Â Â Â 41,395 Â Â Â Â Â 39,477

2009-10Â Â Â Â Â Â 55.4 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 62.8 Â Â Â Â Â Â 70.9 Â Â Â Â 71.4 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 63.7

2010-11Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 57.7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 69.8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 75.4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 70.7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 65.4

2011-12 Â Â Â Â Â Â 62.1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 75.2 Â Â Â Â Â Â 78.2Â Â Â Â Â Â 78 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 70.6

2012-13 Â Â Â Â Â Â 64.2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 76.7Â Â Â Â Â Â 78.3Â Â Â Â Â Â 76.2 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 67.7

2013-14 Â Â Â Â Â Â 66.1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 77.9 Â Â Â Â Â Â 76.6 Â Â Â Â Â 81.2 Â Â Â Â Â Â 73.2

The biggest contributors to the increase in graduation rates are the improvements in rates for white students and those not classified as solely black. In 2010, 63.4 percent of the white students graduated. In 2014, that rate improved to 74.6 percent. The other students not classified as solely black jumped from 61.6 percent to 75.6 percent.

The graduation rates for black students went from 44.4 percent to 49.8 percent – meaning that half of the African-American students still aren’t graduating on time. The state graduation rate for black students is 64.7 percent.

Improving the academic performance of our black students is clearly the key to improving the overall district. Closing schools in their neighborhoods has not made a significant difference.