By Mark Scott
Albany, NY – The State Education Department reported Friday that more students graduated from high school last year and more graduates earned Regents Diplomas throughout New York State.
The department released its annual report cards for each public school in New York. The information is available at the Education Department website.
The number of graduates in 2006 climbed to 161,732, up from 153,202 in 2005.
The percentage of graduates earning a Regents Diploma (both regular Regents Diplomas and Advanced Regents Diplomas) increased from 70 percent in 2005 to 77 percent in 2006.
"The Board of Regents is working with students, parents, teachers and administrators across the state to improve graduation rates," said State Board of Regents Chancellor Robert Bennett of Tonawanda. "These results show definite improvement, but it is not enough. It is essential that schools use the increased state funding on practices that work to ensure all children get the education they deserve."
Much of the rest of the data in the Report Cards has been released during this past school year. This includes:
* grade 3-8 math and English results;
* school and district graduation rates;
* schools that have failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress and that have been placed on the Schools In Need of Improvement list;
* schools that have been placed on the Schools Under Registration Review list;
* the percentage of classes taught by Highly Qualified Teachers, and
* school districts that need intervention because of sub-par performance among special education students.