Schools

Graduation Rates in the Bloomfield Hills Schools Approach 97 Percent

The dropout rates at Birmingham's two high schools are less than 1 percent, a new report from the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information states.

 

 The graduation rates from high schools in the Bloomfield Hills Schools district continues to top state averages, with nearly 97 percent of all students earning diplomas in four years, state records show.

The data, compiled and released last week by by the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) shows the four-year graduation rates at Andover at 95.40 percent, and 95.96 percent at Lahser. The International Academy graduated 100 percent of students.

Find out what's happening in Bloomfield-Bloomfield Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The CEPI — a state office that collects and reports data about Michigan's K-12 public schools — accounted for students who transferred into or within the district before the 2012 graduation. It also included the number of students held back for a fifth or sixth year of high school, those who graduated early or dropped out, and those students who completed their GED.

The numbers far surpassed statewide averages. Last spring, 76.24 percent of Michigan students graduated in four years, up from 74.33 percent in 2011, the data showed.

Find out what's happening in Bloomfield-Bloomfield Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to CEPI director Thomas Howell, tracking students in four-year cohorts means coming up with more accurate graduation rates.

"These numbers reflect the highest rates we have seen since we started reporting the data using a cohort methodology," Thomas said in a press release.

Overall, more than 53 percent of Michigan school districts saw higher graduation rates in 2012, particularly in the five-year graduation rates for several racial and ethnic groups.

"This is more positive news for Michigan public schools," said State Superintendent Mike Flanagan in a press release. "This is reflective of how our teachers and students are succeeding with the rigorous Michigan Merit curriculum and being better prepared to continue Michigan's economic comeback."

District Spokeswoman Shira Good said the rankings were a positive sign, and she credited the hard-working students, as well as building staff. Teachers, counselors and administrators work together at several grade levels to make sure students have the tools to graduate.

"The teachers, counselors, and staff at the high schools work really hard to identify students that could have problems early on and work with them to get them on track," she said.

School District Students in 4-year cohort Students graduated Spring 2012 Graduation Rate Bloomfield Hills 750 724 96.53 percent Birmingham 613 588 95.92 percent Rochester 1,226 1,148 93.64 percent West Bloomfield 533 488 91.56 percent Troy 968 874 90.29 percent Royal Oak 461 352 76.36 percent

Data courtesy of the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Bloomfield-Bloomfield Hills