Report Finds Minorities, Male Students Have Lower Graduation Rate at Manchester High

The Board of Education heard a report on the graduation rate at Monday that found that minorities are graduating at a lower rate than white students at the town's only public high school, while girls were graduating at a higher rate than boys. 

The report, compiled by David Stetson, director of Manchester High's Guidance Department, compiled graduation rates for students from 2007 through 2011, breaking them down by race. Stetson stressed that his report was "homemade," and that his numbers may differ from the numbers kept on file at the State Department of Education. 

According to the report, in 2007, Manchester High School had a 63 percent graduation for students who started high school four years previous; 61 percent of males graduated in four years, and 66 percent of females; 68 percent of whites graduated, 50 percent of Hispanics, 53 percent of blacks and 100 of Asians. 

In 2008, 64 percent of students who started high school four years previous graduated; 60 percent of males and 67 percent of females; 68 percent of whites, 53 percent of Hispanics, 56 percent of blacks and 100 percent of Asians. 

In 2009, 67 percent of students who started high school four years earlier graduated; 60 percent of males and 74 percent of females; 76 percent of whites; 53 percent of Hispanics, 55 percent of blacks and 76 percent of Asians. 

In 2010, 78 percent of students who started high school four years earlier graduated; 77 percent of males and 79 percent of females; 83 percent of whites, 65 percent of Hispanics, 67 percent of blacks and 100 percent of Asians. 

In 2011, 71 percent of students who started high school four years earlier graduated; 70 percent of males and 71 percent of females; 75 percent of whites, 62 percent of Hispanics, 56 percent of blacks and 100 percent of Asians. 

Stetson's report found that the five largest factors for students who started the high school four years earlier but did not graduate with their class were: students eventually leaving the high school for some form of adult education glasses, students moving outside of the district, students simply "discontinuing" their studies altogether, students transferring to some other institution and students opting for a private, magnet or home school. 

"The students who discontinue without a plan are the students that we are very concerned about," said Stetson. "We will try and contact them by phone or home visit." 

According to Stetson's report, roughly 30 students discontinued from Manchester High each year from 2007 through 2011. 

Sarah Walton, a Democratic member of the school board, said that although it was a positive sign that the graduation rate at the high school was increasing, she found it troubling that there was still such a large disparity in the graduation rate based on race.

"While we have improved our graduation rates, we're still seeing a 25 percent graduation rate difference between our white and black students," Walton said. 

Board of Education Chairman Chris Pattacini said that he would like Stetson to return before the school board shortly with an update on his report and recommended action plans going forward to improve the high school's graduation rate and close the racial gap.  

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