Getting Serious About High School Graduation

By Rebecca Daugherty and Joan Lord

SREB's Challenge to Lead goals call on states to do all they can to make sure that all young adults have a high school diploma — or, if not, pass the GED tests. This report, a part of the Challenge to Lead education goals series, explains how graduation rates are calculated and documents SREB states' progress toward the goal. The report shows that graduation rates are low (especially for minority students and males) and that too few young adults are earning alternative credentials such as the GED. The report offers strategies and promising practices for increasing graduation rates by improving accountability systems, focusing on the ninth grade, reforming high schools and developing media campaigns to promote graduation.

Keywords:  high school, high school graduation rates, minority graduation, high school dropouts, education gaps, black and Hispanic education, graduation exams, tests, comprehensive, end-of-course, GED credential, compulsory attendance age, accountability system, targets, ninth-grade bulge, transition programs, high school reform, Comprehensive School Reform, High Schools That Work, media campaigns, Go Alliance

Goal that it reflects: All young adults have a high school diploma — or, if not, pass the GED tests.

(05E06); 34 pages; 2005; $5 each

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