What’s measured High school graduation rates are presented for the 2005-06 school year. The figures are the four-year cohort graduation rate, which reflects the number of graduating seniors in a given year as a percentage of the number of enrolled ninth graders from three years prior – in effect, it is the percent of ninth graders who graduate four years later. This measure only became available in North Carolina starting with the 2005-06 school year, so trend data are not yet available. Data come from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the South Carolina Department of Education.
Because data is only available for a single year at this time, and because appropriate weights were not available for calculating a weighted regional average graduation rates, graduation rates for each school district are shown in the current report, but a regional average district rate is not shown.
Why it’s measured
High school graduation was once considered a sufficient level of educational attainment in the industrial economy. Today, it is a necessary precursor to a college education or the pursuit of advanced technical training. Indicator results The national estimate of the graduation rate in 2005-06 was 74.3 percent (reflecting graduation rate of ninth graders from 2002-03). The estimate for North Carolina’s rate for that year was 71.4 percent; for South Carolina, 60.6 percent, based on data from the National Center for Education Statistics. In the region, some districts show a pattern of exceeding the state and/or national average, while others fall well below that level, creating considerable variation across the region. The variation ranges from 60 percent (Anson) to 89 percent (York 4, Fort Mill). The rate for Charlotte-Mecklenburg was about 75 percent. Nine of the region’s 21 school districts report that less than 70 percent of enrolled freshman graduate from high school within four years, while three report graduation rates of more than 80 percent. Evaluation This measure varies more than the SAT measure of college preparedness among the districts. South Carolina districts show slightly higher graduation rates than their North Carolina counterparts. Catawba shows impressive numbers in this area. Determining what factors underlie the success of some districts with the SAT may be helpful to the region as a whole. Connections Today job opportunities are greatly tied to educational attainment; thus, the region has a tremendous need to address school districts not successfully graduating a high percentage of students. Future earnings and the likelihood of needing public support or interacting with the criminal justice system have been linked to lack of a high school diploma. This indicator ties in strongly with issues of the economy, public safety and social well-being.
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