By Madina Toure
Queens’ public high schools have seen a modest increase in the number of students who graduated in August, according to data released by the city Department of Education.
The high school graduation rate for the 2013-14 academic year increased to 68.4 percent citywide, compared to 64.2 percent the previous year, City Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña said.
“As we continue our shift to rigorous, Common Core-aligned instruction and our enhanced focus on professional development that puts strong teachers at the front of every classroom, I look forward to seeing graduation and college readiness numbers improve,” Fariña said in a statement.
The dropout rate across the city dropped to 9.7 percent from 10.6 percent last year.
The borough’s overall graduation rate increased to 70.8 percent, or 14,117 of 19.953 students this year, from 68.9 percent, or 14,331 of 20.805 students last year, .
In Queens School District 26, which covers Fresh Meadows, Bayside, Little Neck and Glen Oaks, had the highest rates in the borough.
Out of 3,788 students who entered the ninth grade in 2010, 81.2 percent, or 3,076 students, graduated in August.
That number was slightly higher the previous year, at 81.9 percent, or 3,316 of 4,050 students.
District 28, which includes Jamaica, Forest Hills and Richmond Hill, also saw relatively high graduation rates. Out of 3,582 students, 2,848, or 79.5 percent, graduated in August, compared to 76.6 percent, or 2,629 out of 3,430 students last year.
District 27, which covers South Ozone Park, had the borough’s lowest graduation rates, though it experienced a small graduation gain. Out of 2,833 students, 1,681 students, or 59.3 percent, graduated in August. Last year, only 57.2 percent, or 1,767 of 3,091 students, graduated.
The data represents four-year, public high school graduation rates as of August for community school districts. The data does not necessarily reflect graduation rates for students living in the districts.
The other districts in Queens all experienced small gains but their rates remained largely constant.
Schools in Ridgewood, Glendale, Elmhurst, Corona, Maspeth and Middle Villages, which are part of District 24, saw 65.1 percent, or 2,242 students, graduate, compared to 2,290 students, or 62.1 percent, last year.
District 25, which includes Whitestone, Flushing and Fresh Meadows, had a 65 percent graduation rate, or 1,752 students, compared to 63.8 percent, or 1,839 students, last year.
Out of 931 students in District 29, which covers schools in Jamaica, Queens Village and Laurelton, 67.1 percent, or 625 students, graduated, compared to 63.5 percent, or 524 out of 825 students.
