Schools recognized for high grad rates

INDIANAPOLIS (WANE) Several high schools in northeast Indiana were recognized by the Indiana Department of Education for having high non-waiver graduation rates or dramatically increasing the number of students graduating without waivers in the 2010-2011 school year.

The following schools had the highest graduation rates:

• Leo Junior - Senior High School (East Allen County Schools) achieved the fourth highest 2011 non-waiver graduation rate in the state, with 98.25 percent of its students graduating. 
• Adams Central High School (Adams Central Community Schools) graduated 96.47 percent of its seniors without waivers in 2011, giving it the eighth highest non-waiver graduation rate in Indiana.
• Carroll High School (Northwest Allen County Schools) achieved a non-waiver graduation rate of 95.03 percent. This gives Carroll the fourteenth highest non-waiver graduation rate in the state.
• Fremont High School (Fremont Community Schools) tied for the fifteenth highest non-waiver graduation rate in the state, with 94.74 percent of students graduating in 2011.

The following school was among those with the most improved graduation rate:

• East Noble High School (East Noble School Corporation) increased its non-waiver graduation rate by 12.7 percent over last year—jumping from 70.9 percent of students graduating in 2010 to 83.6 percent in 2011.
   

“I commend Indiana’s educators, students, parents and community members for their efforts to increase graduation rates,” Bennett said. “In today’s world, graduating from high school with a meaningful diploma is critical to achieving any measure of success in life. To see so many more high school students reach this essential milestone is inspiring, and I am thankful for the hard-working teachers and leaders in our schools who helped them get there.”

Statewide, Indiana’s non-waiver graduation rate improved to 78.9 percent in 2011—up from 78.1 percent in 2010. Indiana’s statutory graduation rate (includes waivers) increased to 85.7 percent in the 2010-2011 school year, increasing 1.6 percent over last year and 4.3 percent over the 2009 rate. This is the highest graduation rate Hoosier students have achieved since the state began measuring the four-year cohort graduation rate in 2005. A record-high 171 public schools reached 90 percent or more of their students graduating in four years—a principal goal Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett set for all Indiana students in 2009.

Approximately 45 percent of public high schools met or exceeded the 90-percent graduation mark, and 83 percent of public high schools graduated 80 percent or more of their seniors. In addition, 55 percent of schools improved their graduation rates over last school year, with 25 percent of schools improving their rate by five or more percentage points.