I think the demographics for CFHS and THS directly correlate to their graduation rate. There needs to be an intervention with inner-city schools, their students, and the educators. Truly devoted teachers should reach out as well as mentors around the community. It's a tragedy that less than half graduate from these urban districts.

Educators need to do a better job in the classroom

This evolution is not acceptable to either the
student or their parents

this is not a hard concept. I am a graduating senior from Coventry High. the biggest problem is the new graduation requirements that were set in place for the class of 2008 by the RI department of education. many students dropped out of school or moved to places where the requirements dont pertain to them. also, in light of the low test scores on the NECAP tests, people were baffeled that students did so poorly on the math section. One of the biggest reasons is that many of the students blew off the test and didnt try, many of them (including myself) wrote bulls*** answers just to pass the time. many felt that since it wouldnt effectus, the class of 08, then why bother trying

hahaha, Gov. Carcieri is so concerned yet he continues to take money from the already broke cities and give his buddies jobs that don't exist for 6 figure salaries. He should just start twisting his mustache and laughing "MUAHHHAHAHA my evil plan is working". The demise of the state began with The Don. He doesn't care about Pawtucket and CF. Maybe he could live off $100,000. for a couple of years and give the other $600,000. a year he makes back to the state to clean up some of the mess he has made. Remember when he was running for re-election and Charlie said their was a deficit and he said, "I don't know where you got that information from, we have a surplus". LIAR! I would love to see those tapes played now.

We should be demanding a much better return on our taxpayer investment in the public schools. Far too much money goes into pensions and healthcare and not nearly enough is dedicated to actually TEACHING.

There needs to be some kind of system of accountability for both teachers and administrators.

I know someone whose son was having difficulties and faced failure in his senior year at one of the problem schools. In the course of a powwow with the child, his teacher, his parent, and a school administrator, the administrator said to the child point-blank, "Mrs. So-and-so doesn't care whether or not you graduate. Mrs. So-and-so will pick up her paycheck next week either way."

And you know, he was right, because there was nothing the parents could do about a teacher whose attitude towards her young charges was grotesque. These teachers have a meal ticket for life, and there's no way to get rid of them based on their performance.

The push is on for charter schools and accountability.

I hope these school departments will elevate their teaching standards rather than lowering the graduation standards.

How do the students who graduate in more than 4 years get counted? Also, we seem to blame the teachers but shouldn't the parents carry certain responsibilities as well? Isn't it a parent's role to be involved with their child's education? This country has become too blame oriented. We as parents should look in the mirror and ask if we have done everything possible.

These statistics do not tell the entire story, some students with extenuating circumstances or english as a second language difficulties may take 5 years to graduate, however, they are considered dropouts. What about the girls who have babies in high school and must take a year off to get their lives together? They too may graduate in more than 4 years, but are still considered drop outs.

In addition, these schools, and many others like this in RI have transient populations, which leads to difficulties tracking these students, therefore leading to these students "dropping out." Sure, you can easily blame the educators, but if you think the teachers at Barrington HS are superior to those at Central Falls HS, you are seriously mistaken.

Ultimately it is the state's responsibility, they make it so easy for these kids to dropout and live on welfare for the rest of their lives. Their parents also allow this mentality to be acceptable and do not encourage their children to value an education or to better themselves.

You said, "there needs to be some kind of system of accountability for both teachers and administrators."

It's too bad there is no system of accountability for crappy parents.

Shame on R.I. high schools with low graduation rate. Fire some of the teaches and send some student back across the south border.

Greg S. Has it! after 35 years in teaching, most with great success, I started to see that attitude among students and PARENTS! Try looking at the kids with 20-30 days absence, the kids whp's parents pull their children out of school to take advantage of cheaper vacation rates, or the attitude of some parents who can't understand why their child is dropped from a school sports team when the family goes on a 10 day vacation - the commitment to education begins at home - the students bring it in to the classroom. Some have it, some don't. Look at the top tier of students and it's easy to see why they are there. Don't blame the teacher and school to see what effort goes into learning.

Zeke, the problem in this state is that there is much more accountability demanded of parents than schoolteachers.

DCYF can pull children out of their homes if they in their infinite wisdom deem the parents to be unfit, and are empowered to place these kids into a foster home where they can be beaten to death.

But noone, not the parents, not the taxpayers, not even DCYF, can seem to GET RID OF LOUSY TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS.

How crazy is that?