New Report on High School Graduation

A new report from the Manhattan Institute, released today, attempts to calculate real (as opposed to reported) high school graduation rates, using a consistent methodology across states. They found that nationally, only 70% of students in the “class of 2003” received diplomas.

Overall, Pennsylvania schools scored relatively well, with an 81% graduation rate (ranking 8th among the 50 states). However, Hispanic (50% graduation rate) and African-American (61%) students lag behind.

The Philadelphia City School District ranks 65th out of the 100 largest school districts, with an overall graduation rate of 58%. African-American students graduated at a 54% rate, while only 43% of Hispanic students graduated – contrasted with 73% of White students.