High School Graduation Rates

Topic: Improve Minority Male High School Graduation Rates

Minority Male High School Graduation Rates

Problem:

Minority Males from three ethnic groups (African American, Hispanic American, and Native-American) graduate high school below the national average by nearly 15%,

National Average High School Graduation Rate: 83%
White American: 82% *(88%)
African-American: 69% *(75%)
Asian American: 84%*(90%)
Hispanic American: 72%*(78%)
Native American: 66%*(72%)

*The female to male graduation rate is 6 to 7% higher for females, according to the National Center for Education Statistics

Causes:

Funding Support from Home (Low Self-esteem)

High Rates of School Absentees (Poor Self-Images)

Non-Career Focus (Lack of Exposure to Career Choices)

Environmental Challenges (High Community Poverty Levels)

How the 100% Graduation Rate Program Address the Problem:

  1. We met with the student and their parent to sign a 4-year agreement to graduate on time.
  2. We held 12 after-school training sessions on Economics and the US Legal System for 9th graders.
  3. We sponsored 3 annual field trips with the students and their rival high school program participants, starting from the 9th grade to the end of the 12th grade.
  4. We conducted annual college workshops with the students and our local colleges, both at the high schools and colleges.
  5. We worked with local businesses, organizations, and the school district to find summer job opportunities for the program participants.
  6. We held 18 after-school training sessions on Academic Preparation, Social Skills and Job Readiness for 10th graders.
  7. We conducted monthly in-school sessions on Career Planning, College Readiness, Family Development, and Money Management with guest speakers for 11th and 12th graders.
  8. We developed a self-evaluation chart for each graduation class.
  9. We allowed the program’s underclassmen to attend the program’s annual graduation ceremony.

100% Graduation Rate Program Results:

Camden, New Jersey – **Program Participants Group B (105) compared to Program Sample Group A (105)

The Male Program participants had a 49% higher High School Graduation Rate, compared to the City’s sample group of males – 88% (92 out of 105) to 39% (41 out of 105).

**Selection Process:
Each year, the City’s two largest high schools – Camden High and Woodrow Wilson – Guidance Departments selected 15 incoming high school freshmen for the program. These students were classified as at-risk, based on having grades below C in Math and/or Reading, or had a poor student behavior problem.

The students were then randomly assigned to a Program Group- A (Non-treatment) or Group B (Program Treatment) – based on their seating during the program’s orientation.

Our Recommendations:

School Districts focus on a 21st century career planning high school degrees to:

  • increase student interaction
  • allow students to develop better critical thinking and self-awareness
  • establish the intrinsic value of a high school education