Journal exposes Graduation Rate Gate in an editorial.

In an editorial this morning, the editors exposed the scam that APS and other school districts have been using to appear to be doing a better job than they are, of educating children in public schools.

Their opinion isn't available, strangely, in any format that allows a link to be published.

At any rate, APS has been touting rising graduation rates as proof that they are doing a better job.  The problem is, there are ways to raise graduation rates without having to do a better job of teaching.  APS raised their graduation rates on at least two occasions by simply giving students 5 years instead of 4 to graduate on time and, they dropped from the cohort, any 9th grader who had already failed the 9th grade.

The reason APS and others talk about graduation rates is because they have to talk about something, and every other measure of the efficacy of public education points toward failure.  What does it say that a significant number of diplomas are given to seniors who can't read? or do math?

One solution is a graduation test, or battery of tests, whatever is fair and accurate.  Something akin to SAT or ACT exams.

If one school district's seniors pass the test at a rate of 80% and another district's seniors pass at only 60%, the one is doing demonstrably better than the other; numbers that mean something.

It's a pity that the Journal exposed the scam in an editorial and not in an investigation and report on other real measures of the education that is or is not taking place.