School News

Graduation rates on the rise in Valley Stream

Posted

Graduation rates are steadily rising in the Valley Stream Central High School District, according to figures recently released from the New York State Department of Education.

In addition, students of all ethnic groups are completing high school at an equal rate, which is not the case everywhere in the state. The lack of an “achievement gap” in Valley Stream is the result of the district’s commitment to helping every child reach their full potential, Superintendent Dr. Bill Heidenreich explained.

The numbers released in late June were for the class of 2013. Among the 807 students who entered ninth grade in September 2009, 94.8 graduated in June or August of 2013. That bested Valley Stream’s four-year graduation rate for the class of 2012, which was 93.2 percent.

“We certainly rank up there with the best in the county,” Heidenreich said. The overall graduation rate for the state was 74.9 percent.

Despite the high success rate, Heidenreich said there is still room for improvement. The goal is for every student to graduate in four years, but short of that, he noted other ways to boost success.

For the class of 2013, 57.5 percent graduated with an Advanced Regents diploma, a number he would like to see rise. A Regents diploma is awarded to students who successfully complete a series of five tests, while an Advanced diploma is given to those who pass eight Regents exams.

He said that guidance counselors encourage students to challenge themselves with higher level courses, so he is hopeful that the percentage of Advanced Regents Diplomas can rise in the future. Several years ago, the district eliminated honors track courses, so many students began taking Advanced Placement courses and were successful, Heidenreich noted.

District officials take pride in the fact that all students are performing well. The four-year graduation rate for several groups was consistent — white (97.4 percent), black (93.1 percent), Hispanic (90.8 percent) and Asian/Pacific islander (98.7 percent).

There is also no gap based on economics. Economically disadvantaged students (based on eligibility for free or reduced lunch) are graduating at a 93.2 percent clip, just two points below non-economically disadvantaged students.

“We have a culture that demands that all kids succeed,” said Elise Antonelli, the 2013-14 Board of Education president. She explained that all students are given the same opportunities, and district officials make sure to identify anyone who is struggling academically to give them the extra support they need.

Heidenreich said he is often asked by school officials from other areas how Valley Stream has eliminated the “achievement gap.” He points to the district’s overall philosophy that every child can be successful. Additionally, he said that the district’s students come from supportive families, who provide a strong foundation that allows their children to be successful. “The school can’t do it alone,” he said.

Antonelli added that there are three other partners in the process — Districts 13, 24 and 30 — which educate the children through sixth grade. ‘The ground work is done in the elementary districts,” she said.

Graduation rates are up significantly over the past decade, Heidenreich said. Further gains, will become increasingly difficult. “As you get closer to 100 percent,” he said, “it becomes that much harder to go up by one or two points.”

Over the summer, department leaders from each school will begin compiling graduation data from this year’s class, which will later be presented to the superintendent and his administrative cabinet. He said there is a lot of analysis to do in the weeks ahead that will provide the district useful information to use for the class of 2015 and beyond.