Worcester Public Schools

Press Release
Monday, January 27, 2014
For immediate release

Contacts:
Melinda Boone, Superintendent, (508) 799-3115
David Perda, Chief Research & Accountability Officer, 508-799-3060
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Massachusetts Department of Education (DESE) released high school graduation rates today. In the
Worcester Public Schools (WPS), the data reported today indicate that the percentage of students
graduating in four years is currently at its highest point since the DESE began calculating cohort
graduation rates in 2006.
Of the high school seniors attending school in the WPS in 2013, 73.4 percent graduated within four years,
compared to 72.3 percent in 2012. It is the fifth consecutive year that the four-year graduation rate of
high school students in the WPS has increased and represents a 6.2 percentage point increase from 2006
when the rate was 67.2 percent. The four-year graduation rate statistic represents a cohort of students
from 9th grade through high school and is the percentage of the cohort that has graduated within that
period.
Since last year, the four-year rates improved at Burncoat High School (increase of 3.8 percent to 72.2),
Claremont Academy (increase of 8.2 percent to 72.5), Doherty Memorial High School (increase of 1.1
percent to 83.2), North High School (increase of 7.9 percent to 65.2), and University Park Campus School
(increase of 18.4 percent to 100). Retrospectively, from 2006 to 2013, five high schools in the Worcester
Public Schools have had increases in the percent of students graduating in four years Burncoat High
School (increase of 8.5 percent), Doherty Memorial High School (increase of 11.1 percent), South High
School (increase of 1.3 percent), University Park Campus School (increase of 9.1 percent) and Worcester
Technical High School (increase of 15.7 percent).
When a cohort of students is followed over a five-year period, the district-wide graduation rate is
77.6 percent. The five-year graduation rate for the WPS has increased by 6.4 percent over a seven-year
period from 2006. Since 2006, four high schools have shown increases in the five-year graduation rate
Burncoat High School (increase of 7.6 percent), Doherty High School (increase of 9.8 percent), South
High School (increase of 3.1 percent) and Worcester Technical High School (increase of 15.4 percent).

The annual dropout rate was also released today. This statistic provides information about high school
students and the rate at which students in grades 9-12 dropped out of school in the 2012-13 school year.
The adjusted annual dropout rate across the district dropped in 2013 to 3.4 percent. This represents a 0.7
percentage point decrease from last year and a 0.8 percentage point decrease from 2006. According to
DESE archival statistics available from 1993, the 2013 annual dropout rate for the Worcester Public
Schools has reached its lowest point during this period of time spanning two decades. In 1993, the
adjusted annual dropout rate for the district was 7.4 percent.
"These rates show that we are moving in the right direction," said Superintendent Melinda Boone. "While
I think it is appropriate to take a moment to recognize the efforts of our students and staff, these data
show that there is more hard work in front us. We must continue to provide our young people with the
supports they need so that they graduate on time and are prepared for their lives after high school. We will
not rest."
To assist in working with at-risk students, the Worcester Public Schools continues to make use of an
Early Warning Indicator System. The system provides school and district staff with student data that
predicts the likelihood those students will reach key academic goals. The early warning indicators are
used along with other information to identify students who are potentially off track for their grade level.
This allows schools an opportunity to target student interventions for those predicted to be at risk. For
example, at North High School in 2012-13, 86 students were identified as being off-track for graduation
due to a lack of credits, challenges in coursework, low test scores, or excessive absenteeism. A
Graduation Improvement Specialist was assigned to the high school to work with at-risk students along
with guidance and school adjustment counselors. Nearly 90 percent of these students were able to
graduate on time with their cohort.
Other graduation improvement efforts utilized by the district involve close monitoring of students'
academic progress with regular communication between students, guidance counselors, families and
teachers. Attendance is monitored closely as is the progress of students participating in credit recovery,
buyback participation, and tutoring. Regular meetings of guidance counselors, school adjustment
counselors, the graduate improvement specialist and administrators are held to discuss the progress of
students.
The district has continued to implement systems of student supports for reducing dropout. These supports
include alternative pathways, smaller staff to student ratios, stronger home- and community-school
collaboration, specialized supports for English language learners, after-school tutoring and mentoring, and
an earlier focus on preparation for college and careers. The district has also increased the use of
technology to support student learning and credit recovery. In addition, the district has created a Returnee
Program for dropout students. Since the 2012-13 school year, a number of students have re-enrolled in the
district through this program and completed graduation requirements.

Worcester Public Schools - District-wide 4 year graduation rates from 2006-2013

Year
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

# in
Cohort
1885
1780
1853
1914
1991
1964
1888
1849

%
Graduated
73.4
72.3
72.0
71.4
70.1
69.2
69.8
67.2

% Still
In School
11.3
9.8
9.8
9.5
8.0
11.0
9.6
9.1

%
Non- Grad
Completers
1.3
1.5
2.9
2.4
2.1
1.0
2.4
5.1

% GED
2.8
3.3
4.2
3.9
4.9
3.8
3.2
2.7

%
Dropped
Out
11.0
12.9
10.5
12.2
14.5
14.8
14.7
15.5

%
Permanently
Excluded
0.2
0.2
0.5
0.6
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.4

Worcester Public Schools - High School 4 year graduation rates from 2006-2013
Burncoat High School
Year
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

# in
Cohort
273
291
304
327
381
393
348
372

%
Graduated
72.2
68.4
66.1
66.1
63.0
62.6
63.5
63.7

% Still
In School
8.8
10.7
8.2
9.8
6.3
13.0
11.8
10.2

%
Non- Grad
Completers
1.5
2.1
3.9
2.1
1.8
1.3
3.7
5.9

% GED
4.0
4.5
7.6
4.9
6.8
6.4
3.7
3.0

%
Dropped
Out
13.2
14.1
13.5
17.1
21.3
16.3
16.4
16.1

%
Permanently
Excluded
0.4
0.3
0.7
0.0
0.8
0.5
0.9
1.1

%
Graduated
72.5
64.3
85.7
75.0
78.7
84.0
87.2
.

% Still
In School
8.8
12.5
1.6
3.6
4.3
8.0
6.4
.

%
Non- Grad
Completers
3.8
3.6
3.2
3.6
4.3
2.0
0.0
.

%
GED
1.3
3.6
3.2
0.0
2.1
0.0
0.0
.

%
Dropped
Out
11.3
16.1
6.3
17.9
10.6
6.0
6.4
.

%
Permanently
Excluded
2.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
.

%
Graduated
83.2
82.1
78.7
81.0
77.8
76.2
76.0
72.1

% Still
In School
4.7
5.0
5.6
4.5
5.1
7.9
8.3
7.1

%
Non- Grad
Completers
2.2
0.9
3.5
1.6
0.9
1.0
0.5
3.7

%
GED
3.0
3.2
4.8
4.0
3.9
3.4
3.9
2.6

%
Dropped
Out
6.6
8.8
6.4
8.0
12.0
11.1
11.2
13.9

Claremont Academy
Year
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

# in
Cohort
80
56
63
56
47
50
47
.

Doherty High School

Year
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

# in
Cohort
363
340
376
426
432
407
409
380

%
Permanently
Excluded
0.3
0.0
1.1
0.9
0.2
0.5
0.0
0.5

North High School

Year
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

# in
Cohort
333
323
303
321
355
325
356
327

%
Graduated
65.2
57.3
55.1
58.6
62.5
67.7
64.9
67.0

% Still
In School
12.0
13.3
16.2
13.7
11.3
12.3
8.4
7.3

%
Non- Grad
Completers
0.9
2.2
4.0
3.4
3.4
0.9
2.2
3.7

%
GED
3.9
5.0
6.6
6.5
6.2
1.5
3.4
3.1

%
Dropped
Out
18.0
21.7
18.2
17.1
16.6
17.5
20.8
18.3

% Graduated
64.7
65.4
63.6
63.1
64.6
62.3
68.1
63.4

% Still In
School
13.4
12.3
14.7
10.7
9.3
11.4
8.2
8.7

%
Permanently
Excluded
0.0
0.6
0.0
0.6
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.6

% Non- Grad
Completers
4.6
1.8
3.1
4.2
2.8
0.9
3.1
4.3

% GED
2.8
4.4
3.1
5.2
5.3
3.9
3.6
1.9

% Dropped
Out
14.4
16.1
14.7
15.2
17.3
20.9
17.1
21.2

%
Permanently
Excluded
0.0
0.0
0.8
1.6
0.8
0.7
0.0
0.5

% Still
In School
0.0
13.2
0.0
3.0
0.0
0.0
7.7
6.1

%
Non- Grad
Completers
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
2.6
0.0

%
GED
0.0
0.0
0.0
3.0
2.4
0.0
0.0
0.0

%
Dropped
Out
0.0
2.6
2.4
6.1
0.0
6.1
0.0
3.0

%
Permanently
Excluded
0.0
2.6
2.4
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

% Still
In School
1.9
1.5
3.1
3.8
4.2
6.1
7.4
4.7

%
Non- Grad
Completers
1.6
0.3
0.0
0.6
1.1
0.0
1.6
5.2

%
GED
0.3
0.3
0.0
0.3
2.8
4.2
3.1
3.9

%
Dropped
Out
1.3
1.5
1.1
2.5
4.6
4.2
8.5
6.5

%
Permanently
Excluded
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.4

South High School

Year
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

# in
Cohort
388
341
354
382
398
440
392
415

University Park Campus School

Year
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

# in
Cohort
43
38
42
33
41
33
39
33

%
Graduated
100.0
81.6
95.2
87.9
97.6
93.9
89.7
90.9

Worcester Technical High School

Year
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

# in
Cohort
320
330
358
319
283
261
258
232

%
Graduated
95.0
96.4
95.8
92.5
87.3
85.4
79.5
79.3

Worcester Public Schools - District-wide 5 year graduation rates from 2006-2012

Year
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

# in
Cohort
1780
1853
1914
1991
1965
1888
1849

%
Graduated
77.6
77.7
75.0
74.0
76.0
75.3
71.2

% Still
In School
2.2
2.1
2.5
2.2
2.2
2.7
2.2

%
Non- Grad
Completers
0.0
2.6
4.1
3.3
1.6
2.8
5.8

% GED
4.2
5.3
5.1
6.1
5.6
4.4
2.7

%
Dropped
Out
12.6
11.0
12.8
14.3
14.2
14.5
16.0

%
Permanently
Excluded
0.2
0.5
0.5
0.2
0.4
0.2
0.5

Worcester Public Schools - High School 5 year graduation rates from 2006-2012
Burncoat High School
Year
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

# in
Cohort
291
304
327
381
393
348
372

%
Graduated
75.6
72.7
70.0
67.2
71.5
68.1
68.0

% Still
In School
1.4
1.6
0.9
0.3
1.5
4.6
1.6

%
Non- Grad
Completers
0.0
2.3
4.9
2.6
2.3
3.7
6.7

% GED
5.5
8.9
6.4
8.4
9.4
5.5
3.0

%
Dropped
Out
13.4
13.5
17.7
21.3
14.8
17.2
18.3

%
Permanently
Excluded
0.3
0.7
0.0
0.3
0.5
0.9
1.3

%
Graduated
71.4
90.5
75.0
83.0
86.0
91.5
.

% Still
In School
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
.

%
Non- Grad
Completers
0.0
0.0
5.4
4.3
4.0
0.0
.

%
GED
1.8
3.2
3.6
6.4
0.0
0.0
.

%
Dropped
Out
17.9
6.3
16.1
6.4
8.0
8.5
.

%
Permanently
Excluded
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
2.0
0.0
.

%
Graduated
85.6
82.7
83.8
81.3
82.1
81.9
75.8

% Still
In School
0.9
0.3
0.7
0.7
1.0
1.0
0.5

%
Non- Grad
Completers
0.0
3.2
1.9
1.4
1.2
1.0
4.5

%
GED
4.4
6.4
5.2
5.6
5.7
4.9
2.6

%
Dropped
Out
7.6
5.9
7.7
10.9
9.6
11.2
14.5

Claremont Academy
Year
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

# in
Cohort
56
63
56
47
50
47
.

Doherty High School

Year
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

# in
Cohort
340
376
426
432
407
409
380

%
Permanently
Excluded
0.0
1.1
0.7
0.2
0.5
0.0
0.5

North High School

Year
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

# in
Cohort
323
303
321
355
325
356
327

%
Graduated
66.3
66.3
65.1
67.3
74.8
70.8
70.6

% Still
In School
1.9
1.7
4.0
2.0
2.8
1.7
1.8

%
Non- Grad
Completers
0.0
4.0
4.7
4.7
1.8
2.2
4.0

%
GED
6.2
9.2
7.8
7.3
3.1
5.3
3.1

%
Dropped
Out
22.0
18.2
17.8
18.6
17.5
19.7
16.8

% Graduated
71.3
71.2
67.3
68.3
69.8
73.0
68.2

% Still In
School
2.9
3.1
2.6
3.8
2.3
2.8
1.7

%
Permanently
Excluded
0.6
0.0
0.6
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.6

% Non- Grad
Completers
0.0
3.4
6.3
3.6
1.4
3.1
5.3

% GED
5.9
3.7
6.3
6.3
5.5
4.3
1.9

% Dropped
Out
16.4
16.9
16.2
17.6
20.2
16.8
20.0

%
Permanently
Excluded
0.0
0.8
1.3
0.5
0.9
0.0
0.5

% Still
In School
2.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

%
Non- Grad
Completers
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
2.6
0.0

%
GED
0.0
0.0
3.0
2.4
0.0
0.0
0.0

%
Dropped
Out
5.3
2.4
6.1
0.0
6.1
0.0
3.0

%
Permanently
Excluded
2.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

% Still
In School
0.0
0.3
0.6
1.1
1.1
1.9
0.9

%
Non- Grad
Completers
0.0
0.0
1.6
1.1
0.0
1.9
5.6

%
GED
0.3
0.0
0.6
2.8
5.0
4.3
3.9

%
Dropped
Out
1.5
1.7
3.1
4.9
4.2
7.0
6.9

%
Permanently
Excluded
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.4

South High School

Year
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

# in
Cohort
341
354
382
398
440
392
415

University Park Campus School

Year
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

# in
Cohort
38
42
33
41
33
39
33

%
Graduated
89.5
95.2
90.9
97.6
93.9
97.4
97.0

Worcester Technical High School

Year
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

# in
Cohort
330
358
319
283
261
258
232

%
Graduated
97.3
96.9
93.7
90.1
89.7
84.9
81.9

Worcester Public Schools Annual Dropout Rates (adjusted) by School: 2006-2013

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2013
High School
Enrollment

4.2

6.0

4.7

5.1

3.8

3.7

4.1

3.4

6694

225

5.0

7.3

8.0

7.1

4.8

4.9

4.4

3.6

1030

37

3.9

3.2

2.3

2.7

3.6

2.8

4.2

264

11

Doherty Memorial High

4.2

4.9

2.9

4.2

2.5

2.3

3.8

2.6

1333

34

North High

4.9

7.0

6.1

6.1

7.1

7.5

6.6

5.5

1265

70

South High

5.3

8.2

5.4

7.9

5.0

4.8

5.8

4.8

1288

62

University Park Campus School

0.7

0.0

1.4

0.7

1.4

0.6

0.6

1.3

159

Worcester Technical High

1.8

2.1

1.3

1.0

0.4

0.5

0.4

0.4

1355

School

Worcester Public Schools

Burncoat High
Claremont Academy

2012-13
Total Dropout
Count