First four-year graduation rate highlights challenges for Boston

The State Department of Education today released the school and district four-year graduation rates, a new measurement that will be one factor beginning next year in determining "Adequate Yearly Progress" among Massachusetts high schools under NCLB. Boston's results indicate that 59% of students originally in the Class of 2006 (ninth graders in September 2002) earned a diploma in four years. Another 17% of the total are still in school and pursuing a diploma. Nine Boston public high schools exceeded the statewide four-year graduation rate of 80%. Health Careers Academy, a Horace Mann Charter School within BPS, was one of only four schools statewide to achieve a 100% four-year graduation rate.