Saturday, December 17, 2011

Caveat Lector - Graduation Rates and NJ

In my July 2, 2009 blog post entitled Maryland is a POOR Example of Successful Consolidation, I referenced New Jersey as having the highest graduation-rate percentage.  In fact, the EPE Research Center declared New Jersey 1st in the Nation with 86.9% in 2008.  New Jersey's ranking and statistics may change this year.

Caveat Lector!  This potential drop in percentage is not due to a cataclysmic failure of New Jersey's public schools, but rather a change in the graduation-rate percentage formula!  The data will be EXTREMELY misleading to the average reader.

Why is New Jersey's formula changing?  Outside of the fact that this is a Federal requirement for next year, the data would provide an equal, state-by-state comparison for grade-rate calculations.  The new formula uses an adjusted cohort graduation calculation called a Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI).  Previously, states, similar to New Jersey, self-reported the data.  New Jersey used its own formula for this calculation.

What is New Jersey's new formula?  According to NJ Spotlight, the CPI tracks "the students who enrolled as freshman through their graduation to determine actual graduation rates."  In New Jersey, this "tracking" will occur through NJ SMART system.  Additional information regarding NJ SMART can be found at http://www.nj.gov/education/njsmart/.





1 comment:

Superintendent's Corner said...

The media released the graduation rates for the 2011 high school graduates last week. Statewide, the graduation rate changed from 94.7% (2010) to 83% (2011). In Somerville, the district changed from 98.8% (2010) to 93.29% (2011). Mr. Jones and our high school team will be dissecting the data in the upcoming months to address any noted areas of concern!