A reasonably intelligent person might think that the education community could come up with a way to figure graduation rates that are somewhat accurate.

The accuracy of the Oklahoma’s graduation rate was part of focus of a study released Thursday by a national advocacy group.
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The majority of states — including Oklahoma — estimate that between 80 and 97 percent of high school students graduate. Oklahoma lists its rate as 86 percent.

However, the private analysis found the number is probably closer to 70 percent for most of those states.

Looking into Oklahoma graduation rates a bit further, only muddies things more. Money doesn’t seem to contribute much to the equation. Compare these lists of schools that spend the most money per student against ones with the highest graduation rates.

School, County, Expenditures per student
(MHI = County rank in median household income)

1. Carter, Beckham, $19,424
2. Plainview, Cimarron, $19,250
3. Reydon, Roger Mills, $17,082
4. Sweetwater, Roger Mills, $12,582
5. Hammon, Roger Mills, $12,503
6. Balko, Beaver, $12,478, MHI=6
7. Bell, Adair, $11,835
8. Frontier, Noble, $11,332, MHI=16
9. Freedom, Woods, $11,171
10. Boley, Okfuskee, $11,000

School, County, Graduation rate

1. Plainview, Carter, 98.63%
2. Elmore City-pernell, Garvin, 98.04%
3. Pioneer-pleasant Vale, Garfield, 97.56%
4. Navajo, Jackson, 97.50%
5. Preston, Okmulgee, 97.44%
6. Hydro-eakly, Caddo, 97.44%
7. Amber-pocasset, Grady, 97.44%, MHI=20
8. Haworth, McCurtain, 97.37%
9. Oologah-talala, Rogers, 97.32%, MHI=2
10. Waurika, Jefferson, 97.30%
(Graduation rates in Oklahoma and Tulsa counties are recorded at 65% and 71% respectively.)

The only thing I can derive from such figures – other than funny-named schools are more successful – is that there is nothing better to do in these locales than attend school. Extra-curricular activities probably have a lot to do with it. Although, that all goes out the window when you get to college; where we’re lucky to get 60%.

And then there’s athletes. You may remember the stink in 2002:

Oklahoma registered the highest one-year increase in athletes’ graduation rates in the NCAA’s top football-playing Division I-A, according to federally compiled figures being released today. The school is one of nine in Division I and 15 overall capturing USA TODAY/NCAA Academic Achievement Awards.
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The Oklahoma grad rate for athletes rose from 34% a year ago to 74% this year.

And it’s not just football:

“Numbers don’t always tell the story,” Sampson says. “Last year, our (basketball) graduation rate was reported as zero. I can make the argument that it was 100%. It was based on two kids who came in a particular year: Bobby Joe Evans, who graduated in 6 1/2 years because he had (multiple) knee surgeries, got married, had two kids and had to drop out for a year, and Michael Cotton, who transferred to Boston College and graduated from there. Did they graduate from Oklahoma in six years? No, they didn’t. But they did graduate.

Bottom line? The percentage of functional illiterate adults in Oklahoma are no better than the rest of the country (approx. 22%). And there’s no telling how many of those graduated.

Disclosure – I never graduated nuthin’.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 24th, 2005 at 11:39 am and is filed under Culture. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.