Improvement of East Providence High School's graduation rate continues

Posted 2/28/16

EAST PROVIDENCE — East Providence High School's graduation rate reached a seven-year peak with the Class of 2015 as 84 percent of those seniors eligible to receive a diploma did so last June.

According to a recent report issued by the …

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Improvement of East Providence High School's graduation rate continues

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — East Providence High School's graduation rate reached a seven-year peak with the Class of 2015 as 84 percent of those seniors eligible to receive a diploma did so last June.

According to a recent report issued by the Rhode Island Department of Education, 375 of those students who enrolled at EPHS for the first time as freshmen in the fall of 2011 graduated from four years later. That's an increase of 15 percent from East Providence High School's nadir in the spring of 2011 when just 69 percent (436 total) of pupils in that same category received their diplomas.

"These students make us proud. Our teachers work hard at not letting them give up on themselves," EPHS Principal Shani Wallace said of the improvement. "The kids put time into their work and know what it means to earn what they work hard for. And their efforts get rewarded."

The year 2011 proved a bit of an outlier locally. In the year's 2009 and 2010, 77 percent of four-year students at EPHS graduated. Following the nine-point drop in 2011, the rate rose slightly to 71 percent in 2012 then back to 74 and 80 percent in the academic years ending in 2013 and 2014.

Since, Ms. Wallace said a greater emphasis has been put into making connections directly with parents of struggling students. Also more proactive meetings are held between parents, teachers, guidance counselors and members of the school administration.

"There is really solid effort and connection between students and staff to work together and find ways for each student to succeed," Ms. Wallace added. "It's a community effort and we will continue to grow a supportive community of collaboration with kids, parents, staff and the public."

Included in the RIDE statistics is a precipitous drop in enrollment numbers at EPHS. Back in '09, 512 students earned diplomas. That total has continued in a downward trajectory since, except for the Class of 2012 which rose to 464 from 436 the previous year. The trend returned in 2013 with 425 graduates then down to 378 in 2014.

The 84 percent figure from last term locally matched the improvement made overall in the state. East Providence High School was actually slightly better than the Rhode Island percentile (83) in 2015 by one point.

State rates have improved steadily over the seven year period of the report, rising from 76 percent in 2009. The figures also note 8.6 percent of students in the Class of 2011-12 are still in school and in need of more time to earn a diploma, 1.5 percent are in GED programs and 6.7 percent have dropped out of school entirely.

Overall, North Providence led the way last year, graduating 98 percent of its four-year students. Portsmouth was second at 97. Smithfield and Barrington were next at 96. East Greenwich and Westerly at 95.

In total, 24 high schools across the state graduated 90 percent or more students in four years. Year over year, Burrillville High School (16%), Central High School (14%), Mount Pleasant High School (11%) and Rogers High School (10%) improved by at least 10 percent from 2014 to 2015.

East Providence is often referred to as an "Urban Ring" community along with the likes of Pawtucket, Cranston and Warwick for their proximity to Providence.

Pawtucket (56 percent in 2009 to 81 in 2015) made marked strides like East Providence while seeing a similar drop in enrollment at Tolman and Shea Highs, respectively.

Warwick's enrollment at its three high schools (Warwick Vets, Pilgrim and Toll Gate) has also dropped significantly (963 to 738), though its improvement was less dramatic from 75 to 81 percent over the same time frame.

Though lower, Cranston's enrollment saw less of a decrease than the others and its rate grad remained rather consistent as well improving from 80 percent in 2009 to 85 last year.

For a point of reference, Providence's graduation rate improved in that span from 66 percent to 75 percent while its four-year student enrollment dropped from 2,048 in '09 to just 1,649 at its four schools (Central, Classical, Hope and Mt. Pleasant) in '15. Classical, as it has traditionally, was among the best schools taken on an individual basis, graduating 97 percent of its students last year.

At the other end of the spectrum Woonsocket has the lowest grad rate (65 percent) though it and its' four-year enrollment remained rather steady in the range of 522 to 441.

Of note as well, graduation rates increased five percentage points or more in recent years across the board throughout the student population. In 2015, Black students improved to 77.1 percent, Hispanics to 77.4, low income to 75.6, students with disabilities to 67.6 and limited language proficiency students to 77.

"I am pleased with the improvement in our graduation rates, although we all must recognize that not all of our graduates are truly prepared for success in postsecondary schooling and in challenging careers," Rhode Island Education Commissioner Ken Wagner said in a press release. "We need to find a way to close the gap between completion and readiness while making sure that all students are on a pathway leading them toward a diploma and industry-recognized credentials. Empowering schools and families while focusing on advanced coursework and personalized instruction for all students will help us achieve this goal."

East Providence High School, graduation rates

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