Some very interesting (though not surprising) findings here:

The study found that students who fall behind in the number of credits they are expected to accumulate have a difficult time getting back on track at traditional high schools. Of the class of 2003’s dropouts, the study found that 93 percent fell behind in their credits at some point, indicating that their chief problem may not be the state requirement that all graduates pass a series of Regents exams. By contrast, only 19 percent of those who graduated had fallen significantly behind in their credits at any point.

There are 68,000 students ages 16 to 21 who have dropped out of school, the study found, but there are 70,000 who are still enrolled even though they are behind in their credits. Effectively serving that group, the bulk of whom are 16, 17 and 18, is critical to improving the city’s graduation rate, Ms. Cahill said.

Many students fall behind after coming to high school with insufficient reading and math skills, the study found, indicating shortcomings in the city’s middle schools. But 30 percent of students who eventually fall behind begin their freshman years with proficient or nearly proficient reading skills, suggesting that high schools are also to blame. Boys are more likely than girls to drop out, the study found, and black and Hispanic students are more likely to drop out than whites and Asians.

 

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October 22, 2006

Study Takes a Sharp Look at the City’s Failing Students

By ELISSA GOOTMAN

The first comprehensive look at New York City’s failing students has found that nearly 140,000 people from ages 16 to 21 have either dropped out of high school or are already so far behind that they are unlikely to graduate.