Archive for July 29th, 2008

Detroit Closes Achievement Gap!

Published by Robert Pondiscio on July 29, 2008 in Research and Reports. 1 Comment

Michigan has the nation’s lowest graduation rate for black male students, while Detroit has the second-lowest rate for big-city school districts, according to a report from the Schott Foundation for Public Education.  Other findings:

  • The state of New York has 3 of the 10 districts (NYC, Rochester and Buffalo) with the lowest graduation rates for Black males.
  • Indianapolis ranks dead last, graduating only 19% of its black male students.
  • The one million black male students enrolled in the New York, Florida, and Georgia public schools are twice as likely not to graduate with their class.
  • Illinois and Wisconsin have nearly 40-point gaps between “how effectively they educate their Black and White non-Hispanic male students.”

While Detroit graduates a mere 20% of its black male students, that’s actually higher than the 17% of white male students who graduate.

Overweight and Underperforming

Published by Robert Pondiscio on July 29, 2008 in No category. 1 Comment

Not only are overweight kids at risk for a host of health problems, but a study of middle school students in suburban Philadelphia indicates they get lower grades, too.   The Los Angeles Times summarizes:

The study, published in the July issue of the journal Obesity, also found that overweight students had lower reading comprehension scores on a nationally standardized test, ranking in the 66th percentile; normal-weight kids ranked in the 75th percentile. Heavier kids were also five times more likely to have six or more detentions than their normal-weight peers, had more school absences and lower physical fitness test scores, and were less inclined to participate on athletic teams — 37% compared with 75% of normal-weight students.

The lead author suspects the poor self-esteem of overweight kids may be a factor.