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Suffolk lags in school completion
City dropout rates higher than state, area averages
Published Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Nearly one in five students entering ninth grade in Suffolk’s public high schools will drop out before graduation, according to the results of a statewide study of on-time graduation rates.
With a dropout rate of 18.6 percent, Suffolk students are more than twice as likely to leave school early without a diploma as the state average. Fewer than three-quarters of the city’s public-school students finish high school on time, compared to the 82.1-percent average in Virginia.
The numbers represent the first time that the commonwealth has tracked students from ninth grade through their scheduled graduation date, giving educators a “cohort report,” instead of just snapshots of classes at graduation time.
Earlier methods of calculating graduation rates often failed to account for students who completed alternative programs, moved to other school divisions or just took longer than the normal four years to move through high school.
“The publication of these cohort reports represents a milestone in the commonwealth’s effort to account for every student,” Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright said in releasing the report. “This is vital information that will shape efforts at the state and local levels to keep students in school and on track toward earning a diploma.”
Suffolk School Superintendent Milton R. Liverman and Kevin Alston, assistant superintendent for administrative services, were both unavailable for comment on Tuesday.
The study showed that of the 1,106 students in Suffolk’s “cohort,” 798 received some kind of diploma within four years. Virginia recognizes and awards an Advanced Studies Diploma, a Standard Diploma, a Modified Standard Diploma, a Special Diploma and a General Achievement Diploma for students of varying academic abilities.
Another 12 students from the original group received either a General Educational Development certificate or a Certificate of Completion. Forty-six students are still enrolled in school after four years, and 206 are listed as dropouts.
Among the eight cities and counties comprising Greater Hampton Roads, Suffolk placed ahead of only Portsmouth in its dropout rate. The percentage of students who left school early ranged from a low of 5.5 percent in Virginia Beach to a high of 19 percent in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth also found itself at the lowest rank in on-time completion rates, with just 61.4 percent of its students finishing high school in four years. With an 87.4-percent rate, Chesapeake led in that category.
Among the study’s conclusions are that students who repeated grades, attended multiple schools or were frequently absent were more likely to drop out.
Absenteeism turns out to be a leading predictor of whether a student will drop out of school; 65.2 percent of dropouts had attendance rates lower than 80 percent during their final year of school.
Nearly as many, though — 58.8 percent — had repeated at least one grade during high school. More than a third of those who had to repeat the ninth grade ended up dropping out.
“Using the data from these cohort reports, educators and policymakers can now see where interventions are most urgently needed and identify high schools and school divisions that have developed best practices and strategies that others can emulate and adapt,” Virginia Board of Education President Mark E. Emblidge said.
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Posted by mcdb (anonymous) on March 31, 2009 at 11:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Would you like to know the problem? Go back to the article...scroll down to 'paragraph' 6...read it. There it is.
You CANNOT be unavailable when you've got questions this tough! Last year Liverman was singing his own praises for high SOL scores and all schools meeting accreditation...then we find out a large percentage of students were not counted in the scores, thus allowing for the passing numbers!
It's not a public school vs private school issue anymore, people (I think SNH has milked that one quite enough). This article, right here, should be a wake up call to everyone who is singing the praises of SPS lately. YES there are teachers who care. YES there are students who try. YES there are honors courses, clubs, and sports...but - YES- 1 in 5 won't graduate!! There HAS to be a change made!
Here is the ‘slap in the face’, ‘notice me’, ‘red flag’…whatever you want to call it, sentence :
“Suffolk students are more than twice as likely to leave school early without a diploma as the state average. Fewer than three-quarters of the city’s public-school students finish high school on time, compared to the 82.1-percent average in Virginia.”
Demand better for our kids!
Posted by OD (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 6:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Surprise surprise surprise...Dr. Liverman surely cant be. Lets throw more money into the fray, lets give everybody a raise. Lets celebrate athletics. Not academics...opps no reason to celebrate that is there? Give the good doctor a hefty bonus and a big car allowance as well. FOR A JOB WELL DONE, this mans record speaks for its self. Maybe he would fit in better working for the Department of Education for antother guy who spent millions for education in Chicago that syastem is a failure as well. How about becoming siter cities. all of the makings are the same, Failed schools, crime, corruption slum lords no need to go on is it? <arc>The good Dr. was unavailbe for comment.Why? He already knew what the report's finding were. Guess he too needs to take a few days off and make sure what he knows of what he is talking about. He to reminds me again of some one who runs away when he is tired or doesnt want to face the music.Here is another example of leadership. Mr Bell at NSA faced the music. Where as the good doctor is being drowned out by the crickets chirping. There is leadership and leaders. Doctor Liverman has none and is not.Time for the SB the City and the teachers to take a vote to find confidence in the good doctor, or a vote of no confidence. Going along with the national theme its time for change. Maybe Debranski the failed mayoral candidate could provide some kind of leasdership. Anything at this stage could only be an improvemnt.
We all know that the student is the person who is responsible for his or her scucess. What I am sick of hearing is how ones faliures is the fault of society...
Posted by suffolk3 (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dr. Liverman plays April Fools jokes on the SB and Council 365 days per year. He was so proud when the schools were accredited (met minimum standards). April Fools. Why are there 5 types of dimplomas? Honors and Standard should suffice. I bet Liverman will try to create a new diploma so he can raise these statistics. Come on City leaders: Fool me once, twice, three, four............ Hasn't Dr. Liverman fooled us enough!
Posted by am (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
suffolk3, the other 3 diploma types are to meet the needs of the special needs population. Not every child can achieve at the first two options.
Posted by OD (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Then Suffolk Schools sure have a lot of special need students.Guess that makes us special. I seem to remember so many credtis and a passing grade were needed to obtain a high school diploma. This is what the feds and the unions have done to education all in the name of diversity, playing fair and all the other political correctness b.s.jammed down our throats. I hate to say it but when something positive happens in the city schools it is reported. its mostly about ones performance in a sporting event and on ocasion on academics, where as at the pvt schools there is very little need to report the good things,it is expected. Do the pvt schools issue multiple certificates to? <sarc tag>
Posted by suffolk3 (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Obtaining a diploma shows that one has met the minimum standards. Why does our society set the bar at minimum? In order to attract new business into the city, we need to be able to provide the brightest workforce available. Honors students and other achievers should be proud of themselves and will do well in the future. How much time do the parents of Honor students spend with their children compared to the dropouts? Parents, put down the remotes and get involved. If every parent spent 30 extra minutes with their children every day, I bet grades and attendance would improve.
How many City Managers have we been through coinciding with Dr. Liverman's tenure? Hmmmm?
Posted by mcdb (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 7:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I KNOW I’m not supposed to say anything negative about SPS- but I’m sorry- my head has come out of the sand despite all the best efforts. The kids aren’t being failed in the high school years alone and those years should only be part of the focus. In one of my past elementary school classes, I had about 25 kids- I’d say 10 had failed once, 5 others had failed at least twice or more. One of the 5 was 4 years older than his classmates!! You do that math! I recommended that he be ‘retained’ …amazingly enough, when the report cards went out, guess who was ‘passed’? This boy was NOT qualified for the next grade level, had missed over half of the year, and had severe discipline problems. He was not alone in the pathetic push through the system. Do I believe that he will graduate from high school? Not a chance. Do I think he’ll make it through middle school? Doubtful. How sad is that? It’s aggravating as a teacher when you work so hard for a student- catching him up on missed days, trying every modification to an IEP possible, privately tutoring him, etc-he still fails and downtown passes him without knowing more than the race and the age. (Not only does the general classroom activities suffer, but I KNOW my other students were put at a much higher risk for VERY inappropriate behavior from this student. Use your imagination, if you will- try putting a 13 year old in a classroom full of 7/8 year olds…the girls in my class thought he was ‘so nice…always hugging’ and ‘patting’ …there was a lot more going on there- I was told he was ‘inquisitive’) It’s not safe- it’s not fair- it’s not responsible- it’s NOT WORKING!!
Posted by suffolk3 (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 9:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mcdb, thank you for your service to our City. What would you do? Would a change in the administration make a difference? Does the problem stem from lack of support at home? We appreciate your insight.
Posted by mcdb (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 9:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Suffolk3 :) The problem within our city starts even higher than Liverman (Va Dept. of Ed)- but he's a tangible change. I'm a teacher- I don't know all the ends and outs of what it's going to take to graduate all students- I just put forth as much effort as I can to make my class roll…like MANY teachers. In my time at SPS we've jumped on bandwagons- before we've given Plan A time to work, we're on to Plan B. Teachers spend more time rewriting plans year to year, instead of taking a great lesson and making it even better. In our school, we were CONSTANTLY having to change the layout and wording of our lesson plans- and we're the only ones who needed to see them. Teachers valuable time is WASTED! It's bad enough when you have students that you're not able to properly discipline, then you have administrators who are picking and choosing silly alternatives to simple things. I often argued we were somehow able to put a man on the moon without him ever rotating through a center or color coding a spelling lesson.
AND of course parents have to be involved. There is (almost) no way for a student to succeed without help at home. Who of us doesn’t want to share with someone our day when we get home – talk about the good and the bad- clear our thoughts- and get help on a few issues? The parent who is involved instills in his/her student the importance of an education. Many teachers would give their eye teeth to have half a room of parents who cared-who checked homework- or showed up for a conference. My class of 25- average conference turnout…2…that’s with reminders, phone calls, and even free meals!
Americans need to take back a sense of pride in all that they do- from parenting to teaching to learning.
Posted by am (anonymous) on April 2, 2009 at 4:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I totally agree with you mcdb. We have jumped on various bandwagons year after year without allowing anything to work. Teachers are not being given the opportunity to make suggestions as to what is the best way to teach the students in their charge. Spending valuable time to look good on paper is time wasted.
And yes, parents do need to be involved. Don't get me wrong, there are many excellent parents out there (and other relatives) very involved in their child's education, but there are too many who believe that they have no responsibility - it is the teacher's problem. I've actually had a parent tell me when I called home that their child was MY PROBLEM between 7:30 and 2:30!
And there is a wonder why Suffolk teachers flee yearly for other school systems? It isn't always a pay issue, it's a respect issue.
Posted by OD (anonymous) on April 2, 2009 at 6:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
AM AND MCD I admire and respect your opinions and knowledge of the problems within the school.
I agree that a 13 year old has no plce being with younger kids. I know of a school systems where there is a differnet campus where the trbl makers, the under achivers, kids that are with special needs are sent to, you could call it a special needs school. If you do make it there and show improvement you are not allowed to go back to your regular school. I see where girls have their babies and return to that same school with their child, they finish their education with their peers who are in the same situation, Stats show that the gradaution rate is abt 85% Kids who are just trbl makers they dont return to the school from which they came from. If they need to be charged due to criminal activity they create in the school.(respcet law and order) They are taken infront of a judge who can either remand them to a juvenille institution if he deems it to be necessary, they do go thru a standard procedure/s and that becomes the last resort.A panel of teachers then evaulate each student and decides what and where a student goes, to finish his or her education for that year or years.It could be they stay right there. The panel is made fo 3to 5 teachers who teach in the school, adminstrators, even child advocats, legal and professionals from the medical community/ They make their recommendations to those at the school from which they came from are also a part of the panel. I guess you could call it what it really is a pardon and parole board set up for kids with special needs of all types. It works wonders for all 3 parties involved the child, the teachers and adminstration.b ut most of all for the commuinty taxpayers. This school offfers these types of needs from 1-12 grades.A big part of the program is teaching social skills. It has no connection to religion and or christain, non christain agendasThe other good thing abt the school there are many volunteers from all walks of life who give of their time and experience of life to offer the kids.Adults that really are not judgemental but they are in some cases consulted when it comes time to make decesions or review these kids as they are needed. It in my opinion help in ones "self esteem" and it could cut out in many cases this diploma "scale". This is where money would be well spent. and not just thrown in the account to spend as just to be spending it.If this is done, then one fact or rule is that the unuion and the feds stay the hell out of running the school. They cant run their own damn agencies. Name me one agency that they have run with any real sucess. No the govt wants to tun the banks, the auto industry, we already know what they have done to the education system in this country,its bankrupt fiancially, socially and morally. Please excuse typos amd mis spells. (Eye surgery can make it where you cant see but in the long run it helps you to see and I am not getting any younger.)
Posted by am (anonymous) on April 2, 2009 at 7:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OD, I understand where you are coming from as I had to put on my glasses to read your comments! You make some truly interesting points, and suggest an alternative that would be interesting (for lack of a better term at this time of the morning) Unfortunately, someone other than teachers believe that they know better than the teachers who spend their days in the classrooms directly working with the children. The courts mandate in some cases that kids return to school - not get good grades and stay out of trouble, but just "return to school" Where does that leave those who truly want to learn? Sitting in a room with disruptions and kids there because they were made to be there for one reason or another. I would hope that you would be willing to share your plan that you outlined above with the SPS SB. Ask them to come and actually talk to the teachers about problems. Listen. And act.
Posted by KNRMCO (anonymous) on April 2, 2009 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i agree with all the comments. i am not a teacher, only a parent of thankfully, ADULT children. i said it before....school is just a glorified day care for most parents to drop their children off while they go to work. i am guilty of doing it myself, but something needs to be done NOW. our children are becoming idiots, not knowing how to read, write properly (i am disabled, please rxcuse my tying/spelling) or do basic math. But they DO know how to operate that IPOD, X-BOX, download music or change their settings on their cell phone. what are we teaching them? what is their quality of life going to be in 20 years when mom & dad are not able to take care/look after them?
Posted by mcdb (anonymous) on April 2, 2009 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OD's school would be great! Accountability for actions would be fantastic! I wish that the few rules that we have in our school/system were actually used and respected. Honest to God this is the manner of discipline I witnessed in my classroom one afternoon. The boy (not in the class I was teaching) was sent to my room when he was having behavior problems because remaining in the class with his teacher only worsened the problems. So here he is, and in walks the guidance counselor. She asked him what was going on today-of course 'nuthin'. He gave her a few smart answers and she turned to him and said - 'I know about you getting into that gang, and if you keep messing up, I'm gonna tell your mom.' MY MOUTH DROPPED. HOW do you teach? How do you mentor? How do you encourage- a student that you've already shown you have no hope in? She knew she really couldn't get things taken care of within school so she was going to try to take away his gang life!?! Are you kidding me?!?
This entire situation is far to gone for me to be able to solve- wish I did have the master plan- maybe then I'd make the big bucks- but something has to be done about those we hire to lead our schools and our system!!!
Posted by Anony (anonymous) on April 2, 2009 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Some parents just don't seem to care about their child, or their child's future. The article mentioned absenteeism as a predictor for failing to graduate. If a parents doesn't care enough about their kid to even make sure s/he goes to class, why would they care when that child fails?
That creates a situation where the child doesn't care, either. Why should he waste his time learning, when education carries no value in his life? Kids, and increasingly, adults, are all about instant gratification. As children mature, they should come to understand the idea of putting in work now for a later achievement. (Complete high school now, so that you can go to college, so that you can support yourself in a lifestyle you enjoy.) These kids don't understand that concept; nor do they understand "respect" or "impulse control."
Certainly, the school system needs to implement changes in policies, because what worked for kids years ago is failing spectacularly today. However, I'm not sure how much you can achieve when you're working with children and families who are already "broken." Ultimately, I feel that the public schools are doing the best they can with what they've got. And what they've got are problems that start at home.
Posted by am (anonymous) on April 2, 2009 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OD, when you start this school, I would be honored to even APPLY to teach there! KNRMCO, for some, school is a glorified daycare facility - teachers become the latchkey parents.
mcdb, don't ever leave the classroom...it's the good ones who will eventually change the system.
Posted by OD (anonymous) on April 2, 2009 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I stand corrected the school is grades 8 thru 12. My daughter went there for 6 months and graduated with honors and her baby. My oldest granddaughter It was very hard to go to her "regular" school and withdraw her from there and then register at the new school It was peer pressure and some hostile atmosphere at the regular school that all kids in that situation can go thru. You know how kids can be, She got out of that enviroment and the only peers she had were girls just like her. I think that senior class graduated 9 students and their babies that year..She ended up in a junior college and now has a associates degree. And now i have a total of 2 girls and one boy as grand kids. She is attending college now part time and working...the working part to me is the best part whewwww, every thing else is a breeze, She is now majoring in education...
Posted by ammine (anonymous) on April 2, 2009 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Alternative schools are now the schools of choice. They used to be feared and kids were embarrased to attend. There are so many ills of public education and I feel the ills are direct results of removing Prayer, Corporal Punishment, making it against the law to physically discipline your own child along with paying millions to sports figures and pennies to teachers, plus because it's a relatively free ride for most parents. School officials must dance for government money and greed at the top keeps most of it from reaching the classroom. I truly believe if executive level administrators were paid the standard jury duty fee (maybe a little more, but you get my drift), there would be more teachers remaining in the classroom and a better student to teacher ratio. I say charge a fee relative to income like day care since that's what school is turning out to be anyway. Some people attach expectations to their money and having to pay daycare as opposed to truancy fines might wake up a few parents.
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