Barrow’s graduation rates see decrease

Barrow’s graduation rates see decrease

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Friday, November 5. 2010

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Barrow County Schools bucked a state-wide trend in 2010 by graduating fewer students than in 2009.

While the state’s graduation rate of 80.8 percent crept over 80 percent for the first time ever, the percentage of seniors who graduated from Apalachee and Winder-Barrow High schools was 74.7 percent, down from 76.5 the previous year.

Barrow’s were also the only high schools in the 10-county Athens area with lower graduation rates in 2010 than 2009.

But those statistics may be misleading, according to Barrow County Schools Superintendent Wanda Creel, as in actuality, 96-percent of Apalachee (AHS) seniors and 95-percent of Winder-Barrow (WBHS) seniors graduated with regular diplomas in 2010.

According to Matthew Thompson, a testing specialist for the Barrow Schools, the difference in state versus local graduation percentages is the result of different ways of calculating the rates. The state uses a four year “leaver” model where the total number of high school students who dropout over a four-year period are factored into graduation rates. This means Barrow’s graduation rate of 74.7 percent in 2010 takes into account all the students who left high school in 2007-2010.

“We lose most of our (high school) students in the 9th and 10th grades,” Creel said. “If they make it to their junior year, chances are very good they will go on to graduate.”

In 2009-2010, 316 of the 328 AHS seniors enrolled on the 40th day (a standard student counting point) graduated; at WBHS 300 of 315 graduated “We are not satisfied with our current graduation rate,” Creel said. “One of our primary goals is to establish…the expectation that every student will graduate with their graduating class. Our preschool children are told each day they will be members of the graduating class of 2024… However, we must find strategies to address current high school students while we grow our future graduates.”

For more on this story, see the November 3 edition of the Barrow Journal or click here to read the full story online when you subscribe to our new e-edition.

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#1 rac76 on 11/05/10 at 06:32 AM [Reply]

I don't think making the excuse that the state uses another way to calculate the graduation totals is really a good thing. Instead of making excuses, please fix what is broken. I prefer the way the state does it as I would LOVE to know why a 9th grader (who is about 15 years old) is allowed to drop out. They should say 'no' to the student and to the parent! Plus they give them the hard facts about being a drop out. Seriously, why are they dropping out? This news is embarrassing and frustrating at the same time.

#2 Annie Omus on 11/05/10 at 09:19 AM [Reply]

IMO, the kids drop out in 9th grade due to the fact they are illequipped to all the "freedom" they have in High School due to the lack of Middle School preparing them for this. Visit Westside Middle and see how they are still expected to walk in halls quietly, next to the wall, classes are kept near each other (no traveling) etc... they are treated like kindgergartners and not being prepared for the freedom of High School.
They also need to look into the huge push by school personell to place kids in alternative school for some of the more minor offenses, and the excess useage of OSS versus ISS. The kids don't want to be in school and we need to find ways to keep them there.

#3 Mike M. on 11/05/10 at 12:37 PM [Reply]

One thing for sure, remind the teachers and staff that their job is to EDUCATE not displine.

#3.1 Jack Legg on 11/05/10 at 01:22 PM [Reply]

Whoa,whoa, whoa, there fella, you cant educate without discipline !
These moronic kids come to school because they have to, they have no incentive to learn because their crack smoking parents are too busy having sex and getting high to teach them anything at home. So they come toschool without a clue and disrupt the ones who are trying to learn.I think that at least 50% of the kids in high school should be put into an alternative school or just kicked out altogether.kicking them out is not a good alternative because then they have no chance to get an education and they will wind up like their stupid ignorant parents, where having enough money to buy cigarettes, booze and crack are the only things that matter in life and they raise another generation more degeneratethan themselves.
ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL IS THE WAY TO GO.

#3.1.1 Annie Omus on 11/05/10 at 03:40 PM [Reply]

Sorry Jack, but the kids will end up like their parents if they are sent to Alternative School too. Alternative school just itches to get the kids kicked out or to get them put on the Gang bangers list with the law. They do not help these kids in any way that will make them productive either. What else can you think of to do with them? We need more concerned parents as well as alot more concerned teachers and administrators to help the youth. Both parents and school staff have failed our kids as there is few positive role models in either place.

#3.1.1.1 Jack Legg on 11/05/10 at 09:50 PM [Reply]

True about few positive role models, not true that schools have failed.You can only do so much with what your given. I have known several kids that were flunking out of regular school, but went to the alternative school and turned it around. They turned it around because they wanted to and there was less distractions at school.Im sure there are some like you said to that are hopeless,thats not the schools fault,and up to a point its not even the kids fault because they dont know ant better. Its all the crack addicted, pleasure seeking self absorbed parents fault.Alternative school gives those a chance who know enough to want to succeed.

#3.1.2 Mike M. on 11/08/10 at 09:16 AM [Reply]

Look, all I want my kid's teachers to do is teach my kids. The rest I got.

#3.2 Anonymous on 11/06/10 at 03:27 PM [Reply]

If parents disciplined, teachers won't have too.

When you have a student who is not disciplined at home and whose parents place little to no value on education, what do you expect?

Teachers would LOVE to just teach. Having disruptive students in the classroom makes it damn near impossible for those students who want to learn to do just that.

#4 Robert Lanham on 11/05/10 at 02:48 PM [Reply]

I was under the impression that Georgia had mandatory attendance laws that extended through the age of 16. If that is the case, why are some parents being arrested? I know it sounds harsh, but parents have an obligation to insure that their children are in school.
More to the point, however, is the fact that the school administrators continue to make excuses. Just once, I would like to see Dr. Creel say "we have a problem here, and this is what we are doing about it, instead of faulting the numbers. If 30 percent of the incoming freshman class fails to graduate, then there is a serious problem in administration - and I would start looking at the high school principals. Maybe if they were less concerned about what their teachers wer doing in their off hours, and more concerned about the students who are leaving, then we would see that number go down. How about it, Dr. Creel? Are you prepared to lop off a few heads to get things turned around?

#4.1 It totally cracks me up that on 11/05/10 at 06:41 PM [Reply]

the citizens of Barrow whine about the school system, the drop out rate, the failing to meet state standards and yet, when they had to opportunity to replace half the BOE, they didn't.

Correcting the problems in the schools start from the top down. The school district NEEDS a STRONG board.

#5 Fortitude on 11/05/10 at 10:29 PM [Reply]

I would like to point out something, the state uses one system and Barrow uses another. If students begin high school, then are taken out in order to go to a private school or homeschooled, they would be part of the state statistics. No one, but the parents can control the students dropout rate. The teachers and admin can only do so much, however, the parents should be held accountable and fined if their student drops out of school for anything less than to take care of the family.

#6 It's Great on 11/06/10 at 06:52 PM [Reply]

Let them drop out. Who cares,that way my kid can have less interruption whne they are at school.

#7 Told you so on 11/07/10 at 09:14 PM [Reply]

I believe I heard more than a few candidates back in the early spring and summer say this was an issue, but I guess they were wrong because none of them were elected... Hmmmm.... Then we reelect the same group that is sitting on the BOE now. What is that old saying about doing the same thing and expecting different results. Until the citizens of Barrow county can look past someone's color or there sex or issues that have nothing to do with being a "true public servant" and not a servant to special interst you get what you deserve. Let;s hope that can change in 2012.

#8 King Danny on 11/08/10 at 07:12 AM [Reply]

I was a drop out myself. But I joined the service and finished high school in the service. I have since obtained two engineering degrees. It is has more to do with the drive inside each and every person and how they feel about themselves inside. When students are allowed to walk around with their "pants on the floor" and the girls walk around with just about everything showing then education is the last thing on the students minds. I am not a teacher lover but they have an impossible job. If they tell the student to sit down and shut up then they jump up and say you are violating my civil rights. Or my daddy will whip you. Or I will call the state and report you. As others have said it starts at home. If mother and dad are dead beats living off the money train from the government ... then what does the child see growing up and where is the "setting an example" at these days. People as I have said I am not a fan of public schools but this problem lays at home and not the schools problem. You raise a brat and then send them off to school and want them to give them their up-bring. The problem STARTS AT HOME.

#9 Anonymous on 11/09/10 at 01:58 AM [Reply]

Some kids are never told they can go to college and can have any career they want...Have the life they want. Tell them, or else they will not know.
Nobody did that for me.

Some teachers are really rude and mean to students...Make teachers take a special course on how to be courtious to the students,...Theres nothing better than a wonderful, friendly teacher to talk a potential drop out into staying in schoolNobody did that for me.

Show the kids how hard it is going to be on them if they drop out. Have guest speakers, drop outs who have suffered because of it. Explain the GED process to the students and let them see that it's no piece of cake and it's about to get harder. Let them know that without a GED or diploma there are no jobs to be had. Have a kind of career day, but make it drop out day, where the kids get to shadow pre approved drop outs to see how hard their lives are, and send potenial drop outs to the GED class to see how it's really worse than school. Nobody did that for me.

Please help the future drop outs!!!
Droping out slows your success down and makes your life harder. Their are many reprocussions to dropping out, you will be feeling the effects for many, many years to come! Graduating is easier to do while you are younger. Even quiting with the idea that you are going to get your GED as soon as you quit will slow your success down and have lasting effects.

Every student has the potential to go far in life and have a wonderful life, even if you have dropped out, but it will be much harder, slower, and more costly if you have dropped out.

#10 K W on 11/15/10 at 08:12 PM [Reply]

my daughter is in the 11th grade and since the 2nd grade she has had problems in math. I thank god that she had a teacher who cared and took the time to contact me about this problem, she arranged for my daugther to get tested for disability and then it was up to myself and my husband to do our part i could not tell you how many meetings i had to attend to get this started and that meant taking off work maybe leaving early and you know what IT WAS ALL WORTH IT. Now she has the helps she needs and has had it all the way to high school.She has had the most supportive and caring teachers through out this whole time so parents if the kids come home and say the teachers aren't teaching please find out the truth before you judge because you might find out a little something about your child.

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