Tennessee graduation rate drops 2nd yr in a row amid pandemic

college students turn around and wave to their households all the way through the graduation ceremony at Pearl Cohn high faculty in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, may also 21, 2021.

The percentage of students graduating excessive college on time in Tennessee continues to drop all over the pandemic.

After a virtually decade-lengthy climb, the state's graduation expense has dropped two years in a row with about 88.7% of students graduating on time all the way through the 2020-21 college yr, in comparison to 89.6% the yr before.

Three of the state's 4 greatest city college districts also noticed their graduation quotes decline, with Shelby County schools' cost ultimate stagnant, according to records released by the Tennessee department of training final week.

throughout the 2019-20 college year, Hamilton County schools did see an increase, however the Chattanooga district failed to retain that rise closing college 12 months.

training Commissioner Penny Schwi nn pointed out the state is dedicated to combatting the consequences of the coronavirus on student getting to know, together with supporting quickly-to-be excessive school graduates.

larger education: Nashville faculty leaders say enrollment is abundant, but community engagement wants work

"Our state continues to be dedicated to swift and urgent action to mitigate the negative effects of COVID-19 on our college students," Schwinn pointed out in a statement. "The branch changed into prepared for the negative influences of the pandemic on our statewide graduation cost, however we are assured that with the appropriate funding and the partnership and dedication of our districts and schools, we will resume the upward trajectory in graduation fee and confirm we're getting ready Tennessee college students for achievement."

Sycamore excessive school's category of 2021's graduation ceremony was held on the football container Wednesday, can also 26, 2021.

just earlier than the pandemic, the state saw an all-time excessive with 89.7% of scholars earning a excessive college diploma within 4 years in 2019, however the upward vogue became interrupted together with the school year.

although the category of 2020's graduation price changed into simplest a moderate decrease, it came after the state at ease graduation requirements as schools first shuttered in the early days of the pandemic.

The decline in commencement costs additionally comes as enrollment at colleges and universities additionally drops, notably when it comes to college students of colour or students from economically-deprived communities.

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those equal students remain less prone to graduate excessive college. Black and brown college students proceed to graduate at decrease quotes than their white peers with simplest eighty two.5% of Black, Hispanic and Native American students in this 4-12 months cohort graduating on time, compared to ninety two% of white college students.

basic statewide highlights:

Tennessee's general grad price: 88.7%

Black or African American students: eighty two.2%

Hispanic: 83%

Asian: 95.2%

American Indian or Alaska Native: 86.7%

White: ninety two%

college students with disabilities: 71.three%

Economically-disadvantaged: 80.eight%

English language rookies: seventy one%

Homeless students: 72%

Male students: 86% in comparison to 91.5% of feminine students

among specific populations of scholars, English language beginners did see a slight rebound to the community's pre-pandemic graduation fee.

last 12 months, training watchdogs had been most alarmed through the pupil neighborhood's 3 percentage point plunge from seventy one.9% in 2019 to 68.6% in 2020, but the rate improved to 71% in 2021.

Hispanic students additionally noticed a moderate increase, although the fee for Black college students persevered to decline. Homeless pupil commencement prices also endured to plunge, losing from 76.6% in 2020 to 72% this yr.

Schwinn did note that 37 districts managed to increase their commencement fees regardless of the challenges and one more seven districts graduated ninety five% or greater of their cohorts.

IN MEMPHIS: Most Memphis area college district commencement quotes stagnate all over 2d pandemic year

core Tennessee graduation prices

Metro Nashville Public faculties' commencement rate continues to lag at the back of the state's, however the district's 2021 rate declined less than the state's, losing simplest half a percent point from eighty two.3% in 2020 to 81.8% this yr.

many of the different school districts surrounding Metro Nashville proceed to out perform the state, regardless of some declines.

Williamson County schools noticed a slight raise from ninety five.9% of the type of 2020 graduating on time to 96.2% of the classification of 2021.

County degree: Dickson County colleges 2021 grad price stays above TN usual, dips just a little

Wilson County schools, which saw an increase in 2020, is down half a percent aspect, from 96.eight% to ninety six.3%, and Rutherford County colleges' price declined from 95.3% to ninety five.1%. Sumner County schools dropped from 95.7% to 94.5%.

but Robertson County faculties noticed steep decreases, with a more than 6 percentage factor drop from ninety three.1% in 2020 to 86.8% this 12 months. Cheatham County faculties' cost losing from ninety two.three% to 87.7%.

Metro Nashville Public faculties graduation rates

here's a glance at the 2020 graduation costs for MNPS excessive colleges:

Antioch excessive school: 74.8%

Cane Ridge excessive college: eighty one.3%

East Nashville Magnet excessive college: ninety seven.5%

Glencliff high faculty: sixty one.2%

Hillsboro excessive college: 89.eight%

Hillwood excessive school: 85.2%

Hunters Lane high college: 81%

John Overton high college: eighty three.8%

Maplewood excessive college: sixty nine.5%

McGavock excessive school: 76.7%

Nashville college Of the arts: 93.three%

Pearl-Cohn entertainment Magnet excessive faculty: 79.7%

Stratford STEM Magnet faculty: 76.three%

Whites Creek excessive school: 82.9%

Davidson County constitution schools:

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Lead Academy: ninety%

Lead Southeast: ninety two.6%

Intrepid college Preparatory constitution college: 78.6%

KIPP Nashville Collegiate high school: 89.4%

expertise Academies excessive faculty: 86.2%

STEM Prep excessive faculty: ninety six.2%

RePublic excessive college: 86.5%

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Meghan Mangrum covers education for the USA these days community — Tennessee. Contact her at mmangrum@tennessean.com. comply with her on Twitter @memangrum.

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