Thanks, Bill!
The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation has donated $21 million to Chicago Public Schools. The money will go towards a complete high school transformation plan. According to the quote they have on the sidebar on the CBS2 site, our high schools need it. They say that “Currently, 47 percent of Chicago’s high school graduates go on to college, while 46 percent of ninth graders drop out before graduation, according to a release.”
46 + 47 = 93
Now, I know quite a few people who finished high school and then didn’t continue on to college. Are they seriously saying that only 7% of students take this road? And, if so, what is it about Chicago Public Schools which makes students all or nothing? Something seems fishy about that statistic.
Good for Bill and Melinda. I read the stats like this:
53% of the graduates do not go on to college, which makes 7% look good.
46% of 9th graders don’t even make it to graduation, dropping out in the 9th grade. This is even more alarming than the 7% rate above.
Um, actually, you’re reading the stats wrong…
100% of students… 46% drop out….
Of the remaining 54% who *graduate* 47% of *those* students go on to college. Which means that *53%* of those who _graduate_ don’t go off to college.
Maybe we really do need to improve math education. :)
Now I see it. I was reading it as a sum, not as 2 different percentages. And for the record, Dave, I rock at math. It’s apparently poorly written compound sentences that I have an issue with :\
Regardless, almost 50% of students never make it to graduation? Really?
So that I didn’t end up looking like an ass again, I did a quick search online and found that this is true in both NYC (30% – 50%, depending on your requirements) and LA (same-ish numbers as New York) as well. However, the national average graduation rate is 87%.
I don’t rock at math. But word problems are cool. :)