BY MIKE CETERA
An analysis of school data by Johns Hopkins University researchers has found 55 schools in Illinois -- including East Aurora High School -- are eligible for a "dropout factory" label. The unflattering term means the senior class in each of these schools is made up of less than 60 percent of the kids who entered as freshmen, according to the Associated Press. East Aurora's retention rate during the study period was 44 percent, meaning two-thirds of students who start freshman year at East aren't around by senior year.
Go here to see a list of all the Illinois schools that qualify for the study's dropout factory label.
The numbers themselves are not necessarily a surprise. The school has had a troubling graduation rate for some time, although at first glance the district numbers don't match the study figures.
What is surprising? East Aurora is one of just 20 schools outside the city of Chicago on the list. No other Fox Valley schools are included on the list.
Since I have not read the John Hopkin's study, I cannot totally refute it; however, tagging East Aurora as a "dropout factory" based on the percent of freshmen completing four years at one school and exiting after their senior year without weighing other factors is like accepting only one blind man's explanation of an elephant. Tags such as that also have an uncanny ability to outlast reality, thereby hindering all efforts to make any improvements.
I took the time a few years ago to look at the school report cards on line and found that schools were scored primarily on the percentage of students going on to college. East scored low. But, when I compared the types of classes, the degrees the teachers held, and several other factors; East rose to the top. However, none of that seems to make any difference. The bean counters are focused on how many freshmen stayed for all four years at one school and exited from there. That to me is a very poor way to evaluate the quality of education.
Did Johns Hopkins study track students that left school; did they move to another district, out of state, or did they just say no to school? What is the margin of error, for this study. Seems like it would be difficult to substantiate the numbers.
It was interesting to note that the southeast was really under achieving, which has been true for many years.
Again, to reiterate, not all the facts are present for this report. However, when the students of East Aurora high school get pressure from their parents to start working full-time when they turn 16 or 17 to help support the family; that plays a huge role. Earned family income is more important in some situations than a degree that doesn't pay anything. Has this report looked at people who finished via night school with their GED. Again, look at the minority population -- 90% in East Aurora. There is significance there. But it doesn't mean our students aren't learning.
Someone needs to clarify something for me. The article said that East Highs graduation rate was 44%, placing it in the dropout factory category. I just reviewed the districts East High report card. This is information provided to the State of Illinois by the district. The school report card states that East Highs graduation rate is 75.9%. Either this research is not worth the paper it's written upon or the district is providing false information to the State of Illinois and community. A paper like the Beacon should clarify the discrepancy of these facts before they publish them.
CETERA RESPONDS:
The state calculates graduation rates differently (and some researchers suggest inaccurately) than the Hopkins study claims to have done. The state method tends to produce a higher graduation rate, although it may not reflect what's really going on.
Go here and here for a couple of explanations.
Graduation rates means one thing, those that start as freshmen graduate as seniors. Anything else is an attempt to defraud the public. If they are skewing the graduation rates by more than 70%, it makes people wonder how acurate any of the numbers reported are. So much for accountability in schools. I guess this sort of accounting is why we are spending almost 5 million dollars a year on administration salaries alone.
The state to a degree does take into account students who have moved to other districts. The John Hopkins study does not.
While I am sure the graduation rate at East could be improved, we need to keep in mind that they have a high rate of mobility in that district. People move in and out of the East Aurora district constantly for a variety of reasons. That will impact the numbers in the John Hopkins study significantly. Should any school be penalized because people moved to other cities, states, and or countries?
The state at least uses the same method for calculating graduation rates for every school in the state. So comparing among Illinois schools is better than comparing among other states.
I think that the important thing is the East is trying to institute some programs to improve their graduation rate.
I have gotten to know a few kids from East when my children have competed against them in track, cross country, and tennis. I have found them to be good sports, friendly, respectful of others around them, and dedicated to their schoolwork and sport. At track meets, you will see them working on their schoolwork while waiting for their events, cheering on their teammates, and occasionally cheering on the sons and daughter of the parents from other schools sitting near them. I would rather sit near the East High kids during a meet than some of the kids from more affluent schools.
My granddaughter is a senior at East Aurora High. She was always a B student or better. This year, she has changed and cuts classes, doesnt show up at home etc. So East Aurora doesnt try to work with the family. They just tell her to drop out of school. And you people wonder why their drop out rate is so high? Since when do you just throw away formerly good students who are having problems?? East Aurora HS sure does.
There is a specialized community high school affiliated with East High. It is designed for students who are having problems, and possibly, she could get into that school in the meantime to help with the situation. I believe every student deserves opportunities to succeed, and sounds like this student does. The school is called CIS and is on Root Street. At the minimum, if you set up a meeting with a counselor for her, other options are available. Students have graduated in summer to provide enough time to achieve necessary credits for graduation. Please don't give up on her least of all, and don't blame the school---there are solutions out there.
Dear Grandmother of an EastAurora senior,
The school is not to blame for bad parenting.
Great schools have high parental involvement.
You and your family are responsible to handle this teenager, not the school. Take responsiblity for your life and that of your grand daughter and stop blaming someone else.