Tag: High School

Record Number of High School Graduates for Class of 2019

While 2020 has seen its fair share of roadblocks and hurdles, a recent report shows some good news for 2019 grads. The state had a record number of high school graduates and also saw a record in TOPS eligibility, as reported by a Louisiana Department of Education press release.

The class of 2019 recorded a record-high 42,650 “on-time” high school graduates, according to the report released by the Louisiana Department of Education. Despite this milestone, it should be noted that the overall cohort graduation rate decreased from 81.4 percent in 2018 to 80.1 percent in 2019. This released graduation data reflects the four year adjusted cohort graduation rate, which tracks “on-time” graduation.

“We are pleased to celebrate the coordinated efforts resulting in more Louisiana students earning a high school diploma than in previous years,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “”With the good news also comes concern, however, as the graduation rate for the cohort fell from the previous year.”

The class of 2019 also saw Louisiana’s highest recorded number of TOPS scholarships and students earning college and career credentials.

Louisiana saw a record number of high school students graduate on time in 2019 at 42,650, up from 40,131 in 2018. The number of graduates earning early college credit and industry career credentials rose 9.7 percent from 24,841 students in 2018 to 27,260 in 2019. The Class of 2019 also saw growth in the number of students who were eligible for the TOPS scholarships. This class had 22,098 students eligible for TOPS, a 3.8 percent increase from the 21,280 students who were eligible in 2018.

“Moving forward, we see real opportunities to solidify career and technical education pathways that lead to higher wage jobs directly from high school,” said Dr. Brumley. “Also, we must capitalize on possibilities to further connect our high schools and universities through our Dual Enrollment programming.”

Last year’s announcement that the the number of high school graduates rate exceeded 80% sparked a gathering of state leaders on the steps of the Louisiana Capitol to celebrate the state finally meeting a target that, while low by national standards, was the goal of a 2009 state law.

The Louisiana graduation rate was 67.2% in 2010 and 77.5% in 2015. The national average for the graduating class of 2018 was 85%, the latest data available, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

The Louisiana Department of Education has made a library of data available to the public in their High School Performance library on the Department’s website.

As Dr. Brumley stated, “”The graduation and credential data released today will most certainly factor into the development of our short and long term goals. It’s our mission to ensure every student is career or college ready when they leave our schools.”

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“Extension Academy” Pilot Programs in Louisiana High Schools

An alternative graduation model, called the “Extension Academy”, will allow specific students to participate in a fifth year of high school so they can earn career skills and gain credits toward a degree as well as increase their chances of being successful after graduation. Louisiana Believes states the priority deadline for school year 2020-2021 is November 20.

In 2018, around 15,000 Louisiana students who graduated on a TOPS University Diploma pathway weren’t eligible for a TOPS scholarship for higher education, and about 3,200 students who graduated with a Jump Start TOPS Tech Career Diploma weren’t eligible for TOPS Tech scholarships to pursue further training and weren’t on track to earn industry-based credentials. The Extension Academy pilot programs are tailored to support students who are set to graduate from high school, but haven’t earned the Taylor Opportunity for Students (TOPS) scholarships in order to fund their post-graduation education or acquire post-secondary credentials.

Over the course of a three year pilot, Louisiana schools that are interested in bringing this pathway to their students must outline how they plan to provide these students a debt-free one-year opportunity to “achieve significant progress toward a state-recognized associate’s degree through accelerated dual enrollment college experiences, complete a registered pre-apprenticeship, and/or earn an advanced industry-based credential.” Included in their pitch, they are required to detail the different types of support and post-secondary transitional coaching they will have available to the participating students as they complete the pathway.

About the opportunity, superintendent John White says, “”The question we used to ask ourselves was how high we could raise our graduation rate and how low we could push our dropout rate. Now we are compelled to ask what happens to our graduates, and whether they risk dropping out of work and the economy even after they graduate from high school. If this is the case, even with a small number of students, we must rise to meet this new dropout challenge. We encourage our school systems, as well as our higher education, business and community partners, to develop small-scale models for study and potential replication in the future, and to consider the potential impact their involvement could have on young people at a critical point in their lives.”

After the application deadline, the selected pilot locations will be presented to the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for their approval during the joint meeting with the Louisiana Board of Regents this upcoming winter.

The approved Extension Academy plan will bring together 29 different area schools and other local partners to provide students with hands-on opportunities in an effort to build better workplace skills, training in construction crafts, graphic design skills, and increase familiarity with video editing and software development. The accredited higher education partner, which will provide accelerated dual enrollment college experiences, will be Southern New Hampshire University.

Today, there are 18 students participating in the pathway, and each student has a uniquely individualized plan for this 3 year experience.

For more education related information, click here.