Black/white grad gap narrows but officials lament dropouts
September 17, 2003 By Kevin Rothstein The gap between white and black graduation rates in Massachusetts is one of the smallest in the nation, a study released today shows.
While 78 percent of white students graduate in Massachusetts, 65 percent of their black counterparts make it out of high school with a diploma, the study by the conservative think tank Manhattan Institute shows.
The 12-point gap puts Massachusetts behind five other states: Alaska, Mississippi, New Mexico, Arkansas and Alabama.
Nationwide, only half of blacks and Hispanics graduate while 72 percent of whites receive their diplomas.
The report was not celebrated by state officials, however, who have long said too many Bay State kids fail to finish high school.
"We have a very serious dropout problem in the state," Board of Education Chairman James Peyser told lawmakers at a recent State House hearing.
A Department of Education spokeswoman said the findings were good news but cautioned the data was at least two years old.
The Rev. Gregory G. Groover of the Black Ministerial Alliance said the local dropout rate was "deplorable" considering Massachusetts has more resources than states with lower rates.
"This news is no news to celebrate," he said.
Helping close the gap are efforts such as those at the Jeremiah E. Burke High School in Dorchester, where students are closely watched over to make sure they graduate.
"Every senior is connected in some way to some staff member," said headmaster Carol Bradley Moore.
The study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, also found only one-third of all students leave high school qualified to attend a four-year college. Researcher Jay Greene said poor preparation in high school was the biggest barrier to minorities going to college. ©2003 Boston Globe |
