Florida Remains National Leader in Hispanic Graduation Improvement
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Florida Remains National Leader in Hispanic Graduation Improvement
~ National study shows 23 percentage point increase for all students over last 10 years ~Tallahassee, Fla., June 6, 2013 - For the second year in a row, Florida ranks first in the country on the graduation index for Hispanic students according to the 2013 Diplomas Count study released today.
Florida's graduation index for Hispanic students was 77.1 percent, besting the national rate of 68.1 percent. Overall, Florida has posted a 23 percentage point gain in the index since 2000 - the nation's second largest increase.
Governor Rick Scott said, "Florida students and teachers worked hard over the past decade to improve academic performance and student achievement to help ensure more students graduate from high school on time. Thanks to Florida's teachers, our students are competing and succeeding both nationally and internationally. By rewarding Florida teachers with a pay raise this year, we will maintain our growing reputation as the best place in the nation and in the world in which to work, live and thrive."
"Florida has long been on the forefront of national education reform and we are seeing very positive results of that commitment," said Commissioner of Education Dr. Tony Bennett. "We will maintain our dedication and focus to continue reducing the achievement gap among Florida's students."
10-Year Graduation Data (Graduation Rate Index Percentage in Diplomas Count study)
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | Increase from 2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 49.9 | 53.0 | 56.3 | 57.5 | 60.5 | 60.8 | 57.5 | 62.1 | 63.9 | 70.4 | 72.9 | 23.0 |
| U.S. | 66.8 | 68.0 | 69.3 | 69.7 | 70.0 | 70.6 | 69.2 | 68.8 | 71.7 | 72.9 | 74.7 | 7.9 |
Class of 2010 Demographic Graduation Data
| Florida | National Average | |
|---|---|---|
| All Students | 72.9% | 74.7% |
| White (not Hispanic) | 76.4% | 79.6% |
| Hispanic - Ranked 1st in the nation | 77.1% | 68.1% |
| Black (not Hispanic) - Ranked 7th in the nation | 70.1% | 61.7% |
Ten Florida school districts are among the nation's 50 largest school districts evaluated for their progress in increasing the graduation index. Five districts outperformed expectations by more than 10 percentage points.
Graduation Expectations Florida School Districts - Class of 2010
| District | Actual | Expected | Expectation Index (Actual Minus Expected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broward | 80 | 60 | +20 |
| Miami-Dade | 73 | 57 | +16 |
| Palm Beach | 78 | 63 | +15 |
| Lee | 75 | 63 | +12 |
| Hillsborough | 74 | 63 | +11 |
| Orange | 73 | 64 | +9 |
| Duval | 70 | 62 | +8 |
| Polk | 70 | 64 | +6 |
| Brevard | 74 | 71 | +3 |
| Pinellas | 67 | 67 | - |
"This by no means indicates that our work is finished," added Commissioner Bennett. "But it is a clear sign that by working together with a clear focus, we can all help ensure that every student has a chance to succeed in college, in a career and in life."
Diplomas Count is published by Education Week, the same organization that produces the Quality Counts national report on education. The focus of Diplomas Count is high school graduation rates and policies, as well as college standards. Diplomas Count uses a graduation rate index called the Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI).The CPI includes students receiving standard high school diplomas as graduates.
For more information about Education Week's 2013 Diplomas Count report, visit Diplomas Count.