Graduation Rates Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

4 High Schools Post 100 Percent Graduate Rates

State education officials say 70 West Virginia high schools had graduation rates of 90 percent or higher during the 2015-16 school year, including four that reached 100 percent. Bubble sheet test

The four are Union Educational Complex in Grant County, Paden City High School in Wetzel County and both Harman and Pickens high schools in Randolph County.

The overall graduation rate for all the state’s 116 high schools rose to 89.81 percent in the last school year.

Officials say statewide initiatives have lifted that rate the past several years, especially an early warning system that tracks attendance, behavior, grades and other indicators of students at risk of dropping out.

The 70 schools were recognized Friday. That list and their rates were posted online at http://static.k12.wv.us/tt/2017/2015_16_Graduation_Rate.pdf.

Budget Cuts & Graduation Rates at November Interims

About a dozen education officials from around the state addressed the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability in an interim meeting Monday.

Budget cuts for higher education has been a topic many in the state find frustrating, and this feeling was no different at Monday’s interim meeting.

At least four speakers mentioned their concern over the 4% budget cut to higher education that has affected many programs across the state.

Rachel Harper is the Chair for the Advisory Council of Students. She has three young children and says she’s a non-traditional student at Bridge Valley Community and Technical College.

She says the budget cut is affecting aid and programs many students need.

“Tutoring programs are in jeopardy and even the necessary classes for our fields are being cut to once a year causing us to not finish on time or cut completely causing us to have to switch schools,” Harper said.

Concerns were also heard on cuts to PEIA recipients in education, and officials asked lawmakers to pay close attention to higher education cuts in the upcoming 2016 session.

The graduation rate at higher education institutions in West Virginia was also discussed.

Dr. Neal Holly, the Vice Chancellor for Policy and Planning at the Higher Education Policy Commission announced that in the 2013-2014 school year, Shepherd University and West Liberty University were above average in their peer group median, while the other nine institutions in the state were below.

These peer groups are statistically selected based on enrollment, location, and faculty size as well as other factors.

New W.Va. Superintendent Releases Schools Plan

West Virginia’s new superintendent of schools has released his goals for improving the state’s public education system, including a focus on improving student attendance and graduation rates.

Michael Martirano presented the plan to the state Board of Education on Wednesday.

The plan would increase pre-kindergarten offerings in all elementary schools and early childhood learning centers, including the expansion of programs before and after school and during the summer.

He wants to maintain learning environments that are free of bullying, improve school attendance and reduce truancy, suspension and juvenile incarceration rates. He promotes expanding technology offerings, diversity in the workforce, highly qualified teachers and teacher retention.

Martirano says a new accountability system for grading public school performances will ensure that students are college and career ready.