"Oregon grads struggle in college"
So trumpets the lead headline from the story in today's Oregonian.
My goodness, I think, is school funding slipping so low that our grads can't keep up at the next level?
Then I read the lede:
But still, 20 percent is a lot of kids -- more than 1,300 people from the class of 2004 who might struggle to earn a living because, the story insinuates, their high school failed to properly prepare them for secondary education. Our educational system must be failing, the story wants to scream out, if so many kids are dropping out of college before Year Two.
From there, the Oregonian article goes into a long section that describes how academically rigorous schools are better for students' collegiate aspirations, noting Sunset High in Beaverton (89 percent made it to their sophomore year) and Tualatin High (87 percent) as examples. It also talks about how a high percentage of student dropouts never earn a four-year degree or even return to school.
Finally, in the twenty-eighth paragraph, buried on page A6, we read that nationwide, 75 percent of enrollees in public universities make it to their sophomore year. So Oregon, at 81 percent, is actually above average.
But, the chancellor of Oregon's higher education system says, "20 percent is too high an attrition rate."
And you know what? I agree. Twenty percent is too high. But the Oregonian would have you believe that Oregon's high schools are failing. It's not until you read the fine print that you understand what's really going on.
As an aside, I think this is a dangerous measurement to put a lot of stock in when it comes to smaller schools. There were seven schools with perfect scores in this test, all of them with 11 or fewer graduates in state schools: Bonanza (6), Chiloquin (7), McLoughlin (5), Myrtle Point (8), Oakridge (11), Rainier (6), and Reedsport (8). A change of just one student would change their score from anywhere between 9 percent and 20 percent.
Likewise, there were seven schools with scores of less than 60 percent: Dayton (27 graduates, 52%), Enterprise (8, 50%), Grant Union (9, 56%), Jefferson of Portland (23, 52%), Kennedy (12, 25%), Roosevelt (21, 57%), and Wahtonka (7, 29%). Dayton would be above 60 percent if just three more students stayed in school; Jefferson would need two more; Roosevelt just one more. Even poor Kennedy would need only five more.
As another aside, I'm not sure I buy the Oregonian's math. They claim in the story that private schools are only 2 percent better than public schools, with 83 percent of graduates reaching their sophomore year at a public university. On the Oregonian's website, you'll find a PDF filethat lists every Oregon high school, the number of graduates who attended public colleges, the dropout rate, and GPA info. As near as I can tell (and I might have missed some), here are the private schools on the list, along with the number of graduates who went to public colleges, and the percentage who reached their sophomore year:
And remember, this is just graduates who went to public colleges. The students who went to private colleges probably had better grade point averages, and were probably more prepared for college. If you really want to compare high schools, let's include those kids, too.
My goodness, I think, is school funding slipping so low that our grads can't keep up at the next level?
Then I read the lede:
One in five Oregon high school graduates who entered the state's public universities in fall 2004 dropped out before their sophomore year of college, new state figures show.OK, so it's not all Oregon graduates, or even most. It's 20 percent. Actually 19 percent, but we don't learn that until the fourth paragraph.
But still, 20 percent is a lot of kids -- more than 1,300 people from the class of 2004 who might struggle to earn a living because, the story insinuates, their high school failed to properly prepare them for secondary education. Our educational system must be failing, the story wants to scream out, if so many kids are dropping out of college before Year Two.
From there, the Oregonian article goes into a long section that describes how academically rigorous schools are better for students' collegiate aspirations, noting Sunset High in Beaverton (89 percent made it to their sophomore year) and Tualatin High (87 percent) as examples. It also talks about how a high percentage of student dropouts never earn a four-year degree or even return to school.
Finally, in the twenty-eighth paragraph, buried on page A6, we read that nationwide, 75 percent of enrollees in public universities make it to their sophomore year. So Oregon, at 81 percent, is actually above average.
But, the chancellor of Oregon's higher education system says, "20 percent is too high an attrition rate."
And you know what? I agree. Twenty percent is too high. But the Oregonian would have you believe that Oregon's high schools are failing. It's not until you read the fine print that you understand what's really going on.
As an aside, I think this is a dangerous measurement to put a lot of stock in when it comes to smaller schools. There were seven schools with perfect scores in this test, all of them with 11 or fewer graduates in state schools: Bonanza (6), Chiloquin (7), McLoughlin (5), Myrtle Point (8), Oakridge (11), Rainier (6), and Reedsport (8). A change of just one student would change their score from anywhere between 9 percent and 20 percent.
Likewise, there were seven schools with scores of less than 60 percent: Dayton (27 graduates, 52%), Enterprise (8, 50%), Grant Union (9, 56%), Jefferson of Portland (23, 52%), Kennedy (12, 25%), Roosevelt (21, 57%), and Wahtonka (7, 29%). Dayton would be above 60 percent if just three more students stayed in school; Jefferson would need two more; Roosevelt just one more. Even poor Kennedy would need only five more.
As another aside, I'm not sure I buy the Oregonian's math. They claim in the story that private schools are only 2 percent better than public schools, with 83 percent of graduates reaching their sophomore year at a public university. On the Oregonian's website, you'll find a PDF filethat lists every Oregon high school, the number of graduates who attended public colleges, the dropout rate, and GPA info. As near as I can tell (and I might have missed some), here are the private schools on the list, along with the number of graduates who went to public colleges, and the percentage who reached their sophomore year:
- Blanchet Catholic: 13 graduates, 77 percent (10 who made it to sophomore year)
- Cascade Christian: 8, 75% (6)
- Central Catholic: 79, 81% (64)
- Jesuit: 92, 87% (80)
- La Salle: 41, 80% (33)
- Marist: 45, 93% (42)
- Santiam Christian: 15, 87% (13)
- St. Mary's (PDX): 24, 75% (18)
- St. Mary's (Medford): 10, 80% (8)
- Valley Catholic: 31, 90% (28)
- Westside Christian: 15, 87% (13)
And remember, this is just graduates who went to public colleges. The students who went to private colleges probably had better grade point averages, and were probably more prepared for college. If you really want to compare high schools, let's include those kids, too.
posted by Ken @ 3:26 PM
4 Comments:
At 12/30/2006 2:13 PM,
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
At 12/30/2006 2:16 PM,
Anonymous said…
Oregon's system for funding public education is broken.
For years, the Legislature has followed the same tired script. The governor submits his proposed budget with purposefully low funding for K-12 education. Everyone goes quiet for a month.
Then in spring, busloads of children are sent to Salem to lobby for more funding than the governor proposed and school lobbyists complain that Republicans are cutting education.
Everyone waits for the March revenue forecast, hoping there will be more money. There isn't.
Everyone waits for the May revenue forecast, hoping there will be more money. Sometimes there is. Finally, sometimes as late as August, the Legislature gets around to passing the K-12 budget, which always contains more money than the governor proposed but less than the activists wanted.
The difference between what was passed and what the lobbyists wanted is described as a "cut."
Meanwhile, school districts must pass their budgets by June and are left foundering, trying to guess what state number to use in building their spending plan. Depending on what legislator or lobbyist they talk to, that number might be pretty close to what the actual state budget figure is, or wildly too high.
Every elected political leader in Salem -- 30 senators, 60 representatives and one governor -- says that K-12 is the top priority. Why is the K-12 budget among the last things accomplished in a legislative session?
Delay benefits the lobbyists. By delaying passage of the largest segment of the state budget, the lobby can bring pressure to bear on legislators to try and increase the K-12 budget.
That is wrong.
To solve this problem as governor, I will insist that we pass the K-12 budget first, and in 100 days or less. To ensure this happens, I will veto any other legislation that reaches my desk during that period.
This would break the power the education lobby has over every other program in the state budget. It also will force everyone -- the governor, the Legislature, school districts and lobbyists -- to use the same set of numbers when discussing state education spending, which is one of the goals of the Chalkboard Project.
It will give local school boards certainty as they build their own district budgets.
This is only the first step, but Oregon's K-12 education system can be fixed. It's going to take a governor willing to stand up to special interests to get it done.
Jason Atkinson of Central Point is a candidate in the Republican primary
At 12/30/2006 2:44 PM,
Anonymous said…
ROMNEY VOWS CHARTER SCHOOL MORATORIUM VETO
Celebrates National Charter School Week by Awarding Four New Charters
ROXBURY - Governor Mitt Romney today vowed to veto a proposed charter school moratorium, praising the innovation and excellence in these public schools and saying he will fight for the expansion of charter schools in Massachusetts.
“Let there be no doubt, I will veto any charter school moratorium that reaches my desk,” said Romney, appearing at Roxbury Preparatory Charter School with parents of children affected by the proposed moratorium.
Parent and student demand for charter school enrollment in Massachusetts is extremely high. More than 13,000 students were put on a waiting list for a charter school this academic year and the waiting list for this coming school year has grown to over 14,000.
To mark National Charter Schools Week, Romney awarded charters to the founders of four new schools in Lynn, Cambridge, Barnstable and MetroWest.
“Charter schools provide more alternatives in public education and encourage innovation and excellence,” Romney said. “They hold teachers and administration accountable for the educational success of their students and give parents the chance to make choices regarding their children’s education.”
Last week, the Massachusetts House of Representatives approved an amendment to their budget that prevents any new charters from being granted until the end of 2005.
It also freezes five charters approved by the Board of Education earlier this year and last year, including three receiving charters today: Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School, Community Charter School of Cambridge, KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School. The two other schools affected by the House’s action are Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter School and the Salem Academy Charter School.
Because of statutory constraints, 152 school districts in the Commonwealth cannot add new charter schools despite heavy demand from parents. Romney said that he would work to eliminate the caps that unnecessarily hinder the further growth of charter schools: a 120-school cap on the number of charter schools statewide; a four percent cap on the number of children statewide that can enroll in charter schools; and a nine percent cap on the amount of school spending that can go to charter schools from each district.
Romney noted that charter schools have achieved excellence, as evidenced by their MCAS scores.
“Charter schools offer a valuable public school option to our parents and students, and I applaud the success they have had,” said Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll. “A moratorium would be a mistake because it would trample on the rights of parents to select which type of school their children will attend.”
The four new charter schools are:
* Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School, which will be located in Marlborough, Hudson, Maynard or Clinton, will serve grades six through 12 by its fifth year. The Academy will create an atmosphere of celebration of knowledge where children of a variety backgrounds and abilities excel in all subjects, especially in math, science and technology, empowering them to succeed in the workplace in our modern high-tech world. It is scheduled to open in the fall of 2005.
* Community Charter School of Cambridge will serve grades seven through 12 beginning in the fall of 2005. The mission of the school is to combine challenging academics with technology use and real world experience to prepare students for post-secondary success. The mission highlights the school’s goal to create students who are excellent problem solvers and communicators and who participate in the community through internships and other experiences.
* Kipp Academy Lynn Charter School will serve a maximum of 320 students in grades five through eight. Their focus is to create an environment where the students of Lynn will develop the academic skills, intellectual habits and character traits necessary to maximize their potential in high school, college and the world beyond. The school is scheduled to open this fall.
* Marstons Mills East Horace Mann Charter School in Barnstable will serve students in grades kindergarten through four. Their mission is to be a whole school community that provides a challenging and enriching learning environment for all children where all children achieve high academic standards and develop character. The school will open this fall.
In addition, Romney renewed the charters of Roxbury Prep and three other schools, including:
· Barnstable Horace Mann Charter School;
· Conservatory Lab Charter School in Boston; and
· Robert M. Hughes Academy Charter School in Springfield.
Charter schools are public schools that operate independently of any school committee under a five-year charter granted by the Board of Education. They are given the freedom to organize their activities around a core mission, curriculum, or teaching method and set their own budgets and staffs.
Massachusetts charter schools were created with the philosophy to increase student achievement, to give parents more educational choices, develop best practices and be held accountable for results. A charter school must demonstrate positive results within five years or lose its charter.
Romney also celebrated the news that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded MassDevelopment $4 million – in addition to $6 million awarded last year – to fund the Massachusetts Charter School Loan Guarantee Fund. The program will provide funds to be used to guarantee capital to address the cost of acquiring, construction or renovating both owned and leased charter school facilities.
For more information on charter schools, go to www.doe.mass.edu/charter.
Since volunteering what we have learned about vetos and education have been from Ron Saxton Jason Atkinson and Mitt Romney see the above press releases on Mitt and Education oregon needs to follow those standards.
At 12/30/2006 3:03 PM,
Anonymous said…
and it is no matter which school ones attend christian and public.
* The least of learning is done in the classrooms."
o Thomas Merton
"Massachusetts children cannot only lead the nation in test scores, they can be competitive with the best in the world. And the gap in achievement among races can virtually disappear." - Mitt Romney
Today’s schools are falling further and further behind world standards. It is time to raise the bar on education by making teaching a true profession, measuring progress, providing a focus on Math and Science, and involving Parents from the beginning of a child’s school career.
Education Sub-Categories
1. Abstinence education
2. Charter Schools
3. Education Reform
4. Politics and Schools
Mitt Romney's Education:
* Undergraduate at Stanford and Brigham Young University (Highest Honors and Valedictorian). J.D. and M.B.A. from Harvard University (Baker Scholar).
Romney graduated from the Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills (now Cranbrook Kingswood School). He met his future wife, Ann Davies (born in 1949), when she was at the Kingswood School.
After attending Stanford University for two quarters, Romney served for two and one-half years as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in France. Upon returning from his mission, he transferred universities and subsequently received his B.A. with Highest Honors and as valedictorian from Brigham Young University in 1971. In 1975, Romney was awarded an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and was named a Baker scholar. In 1975 he also received his J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School.
Quotes from Mitt Romney on Education
* "It's time to raise the bar on education by making teaching a true profession, measuring progress, providing a focus on math and science, and involving parents from the beginning of a child's school career."
o Governor Mitt Romney
2003
* “Seeing this groundswell of student support only boosts my belief that what we are trying to do in our higher education system is right,” Romney said. “I am committed to our plan, which guarantees quality, affordability and accessibility to all of our campuses for all Massachusetts residents.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 04-07-2003 Press Release
* “Education reform is working in Massachusetts,” Romney said. “I am proud of the progress shown by our students,” said Romney. “My Administration will continue to push for high standards that will restore the value of a high school diploma and better prepare our students for life after school.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 09-03-2003 Press Release
* “We need to get our underperforming school districts back on track. It is time for the interests of the entrenched educational bureaucracy to take a back seat to the interests of our children and teachers.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 10-29-2003 Press Release
* “Massachusetts has some of the best schools and teachers in the nation,” Romney said, speaking tonight from the historic House Chamber at the State House. “Education reform, adopted a decade ago, raised standards and closed funding gaps. But it was the first step, not the last.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 01-15-2004 Press Release
2004
* “We’re horribly backlogged in renovating and rebuilding old and dilapidated schools,” Romney said. “I will propose a series of construction reforms and a refinancing program that will jumpstart over 100 new and remodeled school projects.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 01-15-2004 Press Release
* “Legacy of Learning puts people first, kids first. We’ll be putting our money where our future is,” Romney said.
o Governor Mitt Romney, 01-15-2004 Press Release
* “There are critical investments we can and should make in our children,” Romney said. “But those investments will only be made possible if we continue down the road to reform. I hope you will join with me in working for change.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 01-16-2004 Press Release
* “Families all across the Commonwealth are struggling to pay to send their children to college,” Romney said. “The new Adams scholarship will make the dream of obtaining a college education a reality for thousands of Bay State students and keep our most talented students right here in Massachusetts.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 01-20-2004 Press Release
* “I am committed to unlocking the potential of every child, no matter which school they attend,” Romney said. “Our children cannot wait for slow, methodic changes. They need our help now and this report will serve as a blueprint for immediate reform.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 02-25-2004 Press Release
* “Let there be no doubt, I will veto any charter school moratorium that reaches my desk,” said Romney, appearing at Roxbury Preparatory Charter School with parents of children affected by the proposed moratorium.
o Governor Mitt Romney, 05-05-2004 Press Release
* “Families all across the Commonwealth are struggling to afford to send their children to college,” Romney said, during a rare appearance before a meeting of the Board of Higher Education. “The new Adams scholarship will make the dream of obtaining a college education a reality for thousands of Bay State students and keep our most talented students right here in Massachusetts.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 06-15-2004 Press Release
* “Massachusetts has often been at the forefront of educational reform. In the spirit of that reform, less than seven months ago, I stood in the House Chamber surrounded by members of the General Court and asked them in my State of the State address to work with me to ‘take every step, to prepare every child, for an ever more competitive future,’” said Romney. He added, “The centerpiece of my Legacy of Learning initiative included an ambitious school building program. Today I am pleased to say that, working with the Legislature, we delivered on that promise.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 07-28-2004 Press Release
2005
* “Massachusetts has a choice,” Romney said. “We can provide our kids with a first-rate science education today or we can learn to live with a second-rate economy tomorrow.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 01-25-2005 Press Release
* “I am grateful to each of these individuals for volunteering their time and expertise to helping my Administration successfully integrate all of our early education services under one roof,” Romney said. “Not only will this new agency ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent more wisely and efficiently, it will also improve the care we provide to our youngest citizens and their families.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 03-14-2005 Press Release
* "This is a great day for education reform. Massachusetts is nationally recognized for its leadership on education reform, and we need to continue down the same path if we’re going to help our kids maximize their potential."
o Governor Mitt Romney, 07-14-2005 Press Release
* “This is a huge shot in the arm for our public colleges and universities,” said Romney. “By targeting these resources to construct new facilities and upgrade existing ones, we can put our higher education system in a position to deliver the first class facilities that our students deserve.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 07-18-2005 Press Release
* "I applaud the students, teachers and staff of these excellent schools for the hard work and creativity they have demonstrated as we continue making progress toward higher achievement for all students in Massachusetts," Romney said.
o Governor Mitt Romney, 09-13-2005 Press Release
* "If we’re serious about keeping our kids at the forefront of a highly challenging and competitive world economy, then we have to take the necessary steps to energize our education system," said Romney.
o Governor Mitt Romney, 09-22-2005 Press Release
* “We’re making progress, there’s no doubt about it, but we have more work to do,” Romney said. “These test scores reflect the hard work and creativity of our students, teachers and schools, but they also reveal that some are still struggling. It is increasingly critical that we advance bold reforms to ensure greater accountability and performance in every classroom.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 10-19-2005 Press Release
* “Teachers like Jasmine Lellock and Thabiti Brown are critical to the success of our education initiatives and are doing an outstanding job preparing our children for future success in the classroom and the world,” Romney said. “Teaching professionals are the backbone of our educational system and the best should be recognized and rewarded.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 10-28-2005- Press Release
* “Our Presidential Award nominees set a great example, not only for educators in Massachusetts, but for the nation,” Romney said. “Distinguished math and science teachers like these are the critical components of a public education system that will prepare us for the next century, and they deserve to be recognized for their hard work, creativity and dedication.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 11-07-2005 Press Release
* “Paying for college is one of the largest financial challenges facing Massachusetts families,” said Romney. “For the second year in a row, I’m pleased to reward some of our most promising and hardworking students. When it comes to figuring out how much it will cost to send a son or daughter to college, the Adams scholarship will help ease some of that burden.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 12-15-2005 Press Release
2006
* “The world is growing more competitive every day, and it’s no secret that skills, education and knowledge will be crucial to success in the workforce of the 21st century,” said Romney. “Unless our kids are fully prepared to meet the challenges that lie ahead, Massachusetts will fall behind in the competition for the best jobs.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 01-11-2006 Press Release
* “The men and women of the Massachusetts National Guard perform admirable service for our Commonwealth and for our nation,” said Romney. “By making a public college education entirely free for Guard members, we recognize their tremendous dedication and sacrifice.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 07-20-2006 Press Release
Beliefs about Mitt Romney and Education.
1. Mitt Romney would be the best candidate to reform education.
2. Mitt Romney supports charter schools.
3. Mitt Romney did better in school than any of the other candidates, Republican or Democrat.
Mitt Romney's education related press releases while governor of Massachusetts.
2003
03-03-2003, ROMNEY RELEASES LATEST MCAS RETEST RESULTS FOR CLASS 2003
04-07-2003, ROMNEY WINS STUDENT SUPPORT FOR HIGHER EDUCATION PLAN
09-03-2003, ROMNEY LAUDS STUDENTS' HIGH SCORES ON 2003 MCAS
10-29-2003, ROMNEY TAPS GROGAN TO HEAD EDUCATION TASK FORCE
2004
01-15-2004, ROMNEY FOCUSES ON EDUCATION IN 2004 STATE OF THE STATE
01-16-2004, ROMNEY TARGETS RE** GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY, S TO LOWEST PERFORMING DISTRICTS
01-20-2004, ROMNEY OPENS DOOR TO COLLEGE FOR TOP SCORING STUDENTS
02-20-2004, ROMNEY APPLAUDS STUDENTS FOR EARLY MCAS PREPARATION
02-25-2004, ROMNEY ENDORSES FINDINGS OF GROGAN TASK FORCE ON EDUCATION
05-05-2004, ROMNEY VOWS CHARTER SCHOOL MORATORIUM VETO
06-15-2004, BOARD OF HIGHER ED OVERWHELMINGLY OKAYS ADAMS SCHOLARSHIP
07-28-2004, ROMNEY, AS PART OF ED AGENDA, SIGNS SCHOOL BUILDING REFORMS
10-05-2004, HEALEY RECOGNIZES 2004 COMMONWEALTH COMPASS SCHOOLS
10-19-2004, BOARD OF HIGHER ED GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO ADAMS SCHOLARSHIP
12-10-2004, 13,000 MASSACHUSETTS STUDENTS WIN FREE COLLEGE TUITION
2005
01-25-2005, ROMNEY MOVES TO MAKE SCIENCE A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT
03-14-2005, ROMNEY NAMES NINE-MEMBER EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE BOARD
06-22-2005, ROMNEY ANNOUNCES 2006 TEACHER OF THE YEAR
07-14-2005, ROMNEY ADMINISTRATION AWARDED $2 MILLION HIGH SCHOOL REFORM GRANT
07-18-2005, ROMNEY UNVEILS CAPITAL BUDGET, MAJOR FOCUS ON HIGHER ED
09-13-2005, ROMNEY HONORS 2005 COMMONWEALTH COMPASS SCHOOLS
09-22-2005, ROMNEY FILES COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION REFORM PACKAGE
10-19-2005, ROMNEY LAUDS NATION-TOPPING PERFORMANCE BY MASSACHUSETTS STUDENTS
10-28-2005-, ROMNEY JOINS IN SURPRISE PRESENTATIONS OF NATIONAL EDUCATOR AWARDS TO TOP MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS
11-07-2005, ROMNEY HONORS SIX EDUCATORS FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATH AND SCIENCE
12-15-2005, ROMNEY AWARDS FREE TUITION TO 14,000 MASSACHUSETTS STUDENTS
2006
01-11-2006, ROMNEY TESTIFIES ON EDUCATION REFORM
07-20-2006, ROMNEY PROPOSES $8 MILLION FOR NATIONAL GUARD COLLEGE FEE WAIVERS
there is faith based initiatives for christian schools also.
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