AJC.com > Blogs > Get Schooled > Archives > 2008 > April > 01
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Fixing high schools
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A national study released today says students in big city schools have about a 50-50 shot of graduating from high school on time.
The report included Atlanta in its list of the 50 largest cities. The data is about four years old and puts the Atlanta Public Schools graduation rate at 46 percent. The district has since started new programs to help students and its graduation rate has increased to about 68 percent.
For too long most school districts — urban, suburban and rural — have struggled over how to improve high schools. Many say the schools are too large and too impersonal. Atlanta’s big push was to create smaller communities for high school students. They also provide more tutoring, offer Saturday school classes and give students more one-on-one time with teachers and other adults.
How would you improve high schools? What can parents, business leaders, church groups and other community agencies do to help more kids graduate on time?
