Consider This...

March 2, 2007

 

Are you one of the few people who need proof that low-wealth school districts are struggling?

Even if you aren’t, take a look at the “new” graduation rates released this week by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. These numbers are getting a ton of attention because DPI has been compelled by the feds to actually report accurate statistics for the first time.

The Public School Forum (an educational advocacy group) highlighted some of the worst numbers by county, finding five school systems that graduated fewer than 50% of their students from 2002-2006. Those systems are Lexington City Schools and Hertford, Vance, Pasquotank, and Hoke County systems, and they are all classified as low-wealth.  

Think about that: the poorest schools in the state are graduating fewer than half of the pupils who enroll. That is a failing grade by any definition.

Now that DPI is finally quantifying just how bad the problem is, the General Assembly should take emergency measures to hire and retain good teachers at good pay for the low-wealth systems. Better to pay teachers well now than have to spend much more money later on prisons and public assistance.

How can they justify dithering while each succeeding class hemorrhages more than half its kids?